By Sarah Van Vooren, Atoot Co-Founder, Equal Playing Field Ambassador and part of our Spirit of Football Family Continuing our work around Melbourne with George, we visited The Big Issue Street Soccer women’s programme, which supports disadvantaged and marginalized women,… [Read More]
News
Spirit of Resilience – The Afghan National Women’s Team
By Sarah Van Vooren, Atoot Co-Founder, Equal Playing Field Ambassador and part of our Spirit of Football Family: One of the most powerful stories on the global football stage the past year and a half surrounds the extraordinary escape of… [Read More]
North Melbourne Street Soccer Program workshop
After the prison workshop, we headed to George’s Big Issue Street Soccer Programme at the North Melbourne Community Center. This programme in particular focuses on reintegration of former prisoners into society and works with diverse nationalities who have migrated and… [Read More]
Inclusion and Rehabilitation – The Ball at Port Phillip Prison
We knew we were going to a prison rehabilitation project, but as we arrived I realized: this is a real prison; in fact a high security prison. George Halkias is the incredible mind who started the Big Issue Australia Street… [Read More]
‘I plan to fight for equal opportunities for my sister’ – Casey Fields Primary
By Sarah Van Vooren, Atoot Co-Founder, Equal Playing Field Ambassador and member of the Spirit of Football family Stepping onto the community pitch at Casey Fields Primary School in suburban Melbourne was my first sip of The Ball & Spirit… [Read More]
The Matildas go Waltzing on in the round of 16
‘Waltzing Matilda’ is a famous Australian folk song. The song originally to do with a sheep shearers strike in the 1890s is all about fighting for social justice. Waltzing is from the German term ‘auf der walz’ , which means… [Read More]
The Ball 2023 on the finish line: Australia
After 12 months, The Ball has reached its last country on this year’s journey: Australia. Australia is country number 21 on this journey. Full with activities, The Ball’s journey culminates with a visit to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final… [Read More]
Andrew brings The Ball back to his old school: Auckland Grammar
28th of July: 2,800 boys attend Auckland Grammar School, one of New Zealand’s most storied and traditional schools, in the heart of central Auckland. I (Andrew Aris, director of Spirit of Football Germany) went there from 1991 to 1995 –… [Read More]
The Ball meets German Ambassador at Wellington Girls’ College
July 26 The Ball in Whānganui-a-tara Wellington It’s so easy for me and others who love sport to see the connection between The Ball journey , the Spirit of Football, and Football for Good. We really get how sport unites… [Read More]
The Ball meets Mayor of Wellington Tory Whanau
July 25 The Ball and its team of carriers arrive at 113 The Terrace, downtown Wellington, to meet Tory Whanau, the famous young mayor of New Zealand’s capital city Wellington. She has been in the news recently, and not for… [Read More]
Embracing of diversity: The Ball at Stanhope Rd. School
21st of July New record: 500 signatures in one day! The most signatures on The Ball on any day on the journey so far. A TV News Channels came down to film and report on The Ball at Linfield College…. [Read More]
Football Ferns and The Ball bring the Spirit of Football to Eden Park!
Two days before the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the New Zealand team, the Football Ferns signed The Ball, a symbol for Gender Equality and Climate Action, and pledged to push for better conditions for girls and… [Read More]