“BHOYS FOR AFRICA”
We at the Johannesburg CSC have initiated a campaign to help out disadvantaged youths throughout the African continent. Over the last year we have been asking fellow CSC’s to send us old Celtic and football kit to be distributed to poor communities in Africa. And so far the response, in particular from our friends in North America, has been outstanding.
Our campaign is on two fronts.
The first is to help out the ‘township youth’ of South Africa.
We, the ‘Jo’burg Tims’, have formed a friendship with Bloemfontein Celtic, a S.A. Premier League outfit who also wear the hoops.
We have visited Bloemfontein Celtic and donated Celtic strips and football equipment for distribution, through their community development schemes, to the local kids and youth teams. These kids are from some of the poorest communities in South African society and the gift of soccer kit and equipment makes a real difference – especially in a country where football is the main sport, played just about everywhere, by just about everyone.
We are planning another trip down to Bloemfontein at the beginning of this years PSL season, and hope to attend Bloem Celtic’s first home game and make a presentation of donated kit to the club.
The second part of the campaign is to help out children elsewhere in Africa.
Jo’burg CSC’s Bill McIntosh spends a great deal of time on business in West Africa, and has been using these regular trips to distribute Celtic strips and soccer kit in countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As you may be aware, these African countries are just beginning to recover from a decade of civil war and genocide.
They are among some of the poorest people on the planet, living in countries where whole communities have been scarred by the horrors of war.
Bill has forged links with local community and church groups up there and has been sending kit their way for the last year.
To children and youths, emerging from a decade-long nightmare – and these are kids who have never heard of Bart Simpson, McDonalds etc - these small donations make a real difference, and allow communities to start up local village teams, soccer leagues and so on.
Every little bit does help.
We feel that this campaign has two positives –
Firstly, as per our Social Charter we are doing our bit by helping out poor communities, whilst contributing to the development of community-based sports programs.
Secondly, we are helping to promote the Celtic name throughout the African continent.
For us to achieve these goals, we need the help of Celtic fans worldwide.
From past experience, we have discovered that once Celtic Supporters Clubs get together and start collecting old Celtic strips and football equipment, great things can be achieved.
We have requested that CSC’s ask their members to look through their cupboards and dig out old Celtic jerseys or shorts, old boots, balls, shinpads, training kit, etc.
Once collected, they have filled dozens of boxes of assorted kit and, sent surface mail, the postage costs have been very low.
If any of the global Celtic family, whether CSC’s or individual fans, could help in collecting and posting us kit then we really could make a difference.
We will ensure that all donations are acknowledged on our website and we will also post all press coverage and community feedback online.
(Please note that photographs of all distributions will be sent to the relative donor clubs as well).
We will also liaise with Parkhead, The Celtic View, etc, and will hopefully get them to publicize the good work of those donating kit for the campaign.
If you can help, please send to any kit and equipment to Bill McIntosh at the following address:
269 Lewisham Rd, Northcliff, 2195 Johannesburg , South Africa
(And please mark for attention of William McIntosh, not Bill, as he has to show his passport at the post office when collecting the kit.)
Many thanks for your support.
Hail Hail!
The Johannesburg Tims, CSC
South Africa