WORK OF THE ALIVE AND KICKING CHARITY

That this House commends the work of Alive and Kicking, a charity which takes on previously unemployed adults in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa to hand-stitch durable sports balls for local communities; welcomes the opportunity that these sports balls give for children in some of the poorest communities in Africa to play games; notes that every job provided by Alive and Kicking usually supports an extended family of up to seven or eight people; recognises the importance of the health messages printed on the balls, which raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; and wishes this innovative charity a successful future, particularly in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup which is to be held in South Africa.