3 min read:
I've just touched down in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I was here for the first time in 2018 with the Kit Share Project and it was an experience of a lifetime. It's good to be back.
With the Kit Share Project, we're playing a part in the circular economy and reducing wastage. By collecting used football kits, boots, and equipment from Just Play FC and beyond, travelling with the cargo, and distributing it in person, the project aims to give a new lease of life to these donations and connect you and us, the donors, with a boy, girl or community in Bangladesh.
To go a step further, our mission is to give people the opportunity to come with us and experience life as we don't know it. We want to empower them to take their stories home and spread the ripple of inspiration.
Cue Max.
It's an honour to have Max join us this time. Max is a friend and colleague at Just Play FC and a first time visitor to Bangladesh. He'll have a new story to tell.
Why Bangladesh?
In a football-crazy country with a population of over 150 million people, which has historically produced our football kits, boots, and balls – facing tragedies in the process – it’s shocking that they have not been able to represent themselves at a World Cup. Too often, boys and girls are playing football barefoot or wearing unsuitable footwear, or can't access organised sport for the same reason. This is compounded by a lack of appropriate playing fields and coaching.
But why Bangladesh for me personally? Living in London, I've known people from across the world. Cue Taff.
When I first visited in 2018, it was because Taff had invited me to come and see his home and be a part of the project first hand. I was curious. Having come here and seen how significant an impact we all can have, it's more a question of, "Why not?".
Who are we impacting?
The Kit Share Project aims to tackle the challenges to make the game more accessible for remote communities in the region of Sylhet. While writing this up, I thought about a fundraising target. I thought about the costs of sending myself away for 10 days, shipping the 200kg+ of packages overseas and across Bangladesh, and supporting someone that wanted to join me in doing the same. I started at £1000, but the truth is, the mission and the impact doesn't stop there. With any extra funding we can buy food for the young people we reach and buy livestock to sustain families. And, there's a bigger goal we can contribute to; we are in the process of building an all-weather pitch with stands and facilities in Moulvibazar - a project that will draw crowds from across Sylhet and transform the region and its possibilities.
With your help, we can give back to the same communities who produced what we needed to dream and play football over the years. Let’s level the playing field for a boy or girl in Bangladesh to experience the beautiful game and all that comes with it in the way that we so fortunately do.
To be a part of our journey and help support me support the project, any contribution would make a big difference.
Follow our trip @kitshareproject