“The Million Balls Project’ for African Children and Youth has made its pilot presentation to eight primary schools at Teshie, a fishing community in Accra. The Project which is an initiative of the Organization for Rural Primary Education Developers (ORPED), a non-governmental Organization seeks to inspire hope in African children. Charles Cobbina, Executive Director of ORPED Ghana in a release copied to GNA Sports said the Teshie South cluster of 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9,Camp 1 and Teshie North Methodist Basic Schools were presented with five footballs each last week with a message of ‘A New Africa ready to win. He said “The presentation is in line with our organization’s aim to give children an opportunity to play the beautiful game of soccer as they learn hard during this new school season. “ORPED Ghana has initiated this project because it recognizes the use of football as a powerful tool for teaching children and would continue to make many of such donations to other schools as it aims to achieve its pledge of contributing to the child’s development agenda in Africa.” Mr Cobbina urged the pupils to make good the opportunity presented them, by learning hard and growing to become responsible citizens in the future to take up leadership responsibilities. The headteacher of Teshie 2 Basic School, Mrs. Victoria Mensah, thanked ORPED Ghana for choosing her institution as part of its pilot presentation of balls to schools, and promised to assist the children develop their talents whilst ensuring that they keep to their books as well. The occasion which marked the ‘My-first-day-at-school’ programme to admit new pupils into the school system saw the eight schools recording over 200 new entrants into Primary 1. The soccer balls presented to the children was made possible through Margins Group of Companies, leaders in binding, lamination and I.D Systems in the country. ORPED Ghana seeks to use the platform of the twin events of the Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Angola and South Africa respectively in 2010, to advocate for peace in African communities. It is also to stimulate communities to plant trees and food, provide reading infrastructure for children and put a great smile on the face of ordinary African Children and Communities through the gift of a soccer ball. Source: GNA