The healing power of play

Well, the two objectives can be shared, as reflected through cooperation between Chevrolet Sales Thailand and Save the Children, a global humanitarian organisation.

Under the initiative, Chevrolet will distribute 10,920 virtually indestructible One World Futbols to impoverished children in Thailand over the next few months. 

Following the distribution of 800 footballs to 40 schools in Ayutthaya, they will continue to bring the “power of play” to disadvantaged children in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Samut Prakan and other provinces through the One World Futbols and Save the Children’s partners.

Save the Children is also training teachers in Ayutthaya to be prepared in the event of flooding in the future, through its “Disaster Risk Reduction Programme”. 

The training includes emergency drills focused on heightening readiness and the procedures to follow, such as evacuation, the right mobile numbers to call and the agencies to work with. 

The programme also teaches children rescue procedures and basic life-saving techniques in emergencies. 

“Many people in the community lost their homes and businesses during the flooding [in 2011]. They, especially the children, had no clothes, food or freshwater supply. We hope it will not occur again but if it does, we hope that everyone – teachers and students – is better prepared to handle it and, with the skills from the training, to overcome the crisis successfully,” said Boonlerd Petchmanee, director of Wat Huay Jorakae School in Ayutthaya.

Malee Ngimruksa, senior emergency and DRR (disaster risk reduction) officer for Save the Children, said: “The footballs are a special gift. Playing football with others can help children to recover from the distress caused by disasters such as floods. The One World Futbols can help empower our children with the strength and spirit to move forward in a healthy and positive way.”

Chevrolet and the One World Futbol Project launched the Thailand donation initiative in January this year, a move that brought 5,000 One World Futbols to more than 800 schools over a six-month period. 

 

Three-year commitment

As founding sponsor of the One World Futbol Project, Chevrolet has made a three-year commitment to donate and support the distribution of 1.5 million nearly indestructible footballs to organisations working with youth in war-stricken zones, refugee camps, disaster areas, and other disadvantaged communities around the world.

The project brings the healing power of play to youth worldwide by making, selling and distributing balls that survive the harshest environments. 

Collaborating with sponsors, organisations and individuals, the One World Futbol Project delivers balls to disadvantaged communities where play and sport are used to foster social change.            

Laurent Berthet, director of communications for Chevrolet Thailand/SEA, said Chevrolet believes football can bring positive changes. 

“We want to empower more children with the ‘power of play’. We want to help them grow up healthier, happier and with a positive, forward-looking attitude. A simple game of football goes a long way to keeping their spirits up in tough times. Team sport also helps inculcate a sense of fair play, tolerance and discipline,” he said. 

Chevrolet’s commitment to corporate social responsibility in Thailand includes ongoing initiatives that support education and development of Thai youths by providing scholarships, educational supplies and technical training to schools, and building libraries in poor communities.