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Senda Makes the Official Ball for the Street Soccer USA National Cup

Posted on July 9, 2012 by in Blog, Soccer, Soccer Balls

We’re more than happy to announce that Senda has made the official ball for Street Soccer USA’s 2012 NYC Cup. 25 specially-designed versions of the Rio Futsal will make the journey to New York City, and each Street Soccer USA City will go back home with one of them (you can purchase your own mini-ball version at the Cup where a portion of the proceeds goes back to Street Soccer USA).

Street Soccer USA teaches homeless people life skills through sport, and last year’s Cup, held in Washington, D.C. was a major success. More than 200 players and coaches participated. Most of them were homeless and former participants in Street Soccer USA. A lot of them went to D.C. as coaches, players, or supporters.

For Street Soccer USA tournaments, sportsmanship counts for a lot. Last year’s Cup introduced the use of green cards. When teams were even on points after group play, the green cards served as the tie-breaker. Handed out by referees after a match, they are awarded to players that show positive sportsmanship during a game.

This year, the Cup will be bigger than ever, with the final games being played at Times Square. Teams will be co-ed, and will come together from all over the nation to play soccer and fight against homelessness.

Sign up here to get involved in either of these three ways:

  • PLAY - Sign your team up to play in either the Open Cup or the Corporate Cup.
  • VOLUNTEER - Sign up to help out with NYC Cup weekend activities.
  • SPONSOR -  Make a donation to help support Street Soccer USA players and teams.

OR if you’re in the New York City area, come out and support the nation’s premier sport for social change event by cheering on:

July 26-27, 8am-8pm at Broome and Chrystie Street on the Lower East Side

July 29, 8am-4pm at Times Square 46th Street Plaza

Click here to read more about Senda’s partnership with the Bay Area branch of Street Soccer USA.

Read our previous blog post with Street Soccer USA coach, Antoine Lagarde, here.

 

Fair Trade Joint Body Discusses New Community Projects

Posted on June 25, 2012 by in Blog, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Stitchers, Soccer Balls

Attending the Joint Body meeting with the help of my host, Ehsan (left).

Senda Athletics founder Santiago Halty recounts his 10 day journey in Sialkot, Pakistan, where he visited the factory where Senda’s Fair Trade soccer balls are produced. This is his fifth blog post from his trip. 

View the first post [+] | View the second post [+]  | View the third post [+] | View the fourth post [+] 

Before arriving in Sialkot, Pakistan, one of the activities I was looking forward to the most, was meeting our ball stitchers’ and workers’ Joint Body. As part of of its commitment to Fair Trade, Senda pays a Fair Trade Premium with every ball, which is used for community projects, like healthcare and education. The Joint Body is a group of workers who are democratically elected by their peers that discuss and decide how those Fair Trade premiums can be used to benefit their coworkers and community. The Joint Body is composed of eight workers, including three factory workers, three ball stitchers, and two people from management.

I was able to participate in a Joint Body meeting and listened to some of the ideas they had to improve community projects and create new ones. There were talks about bringing a doctor at the factory to do medical check-ups, as well as putting together an eye clinic.

In addition, my host Ehsan and I met with people from a microcredit bank, to learn from them about the most successful micro-finance projects, which could potentially be started by workers’ family members.

It is through these projects aimed at improving the lives of the people making Senda’s soccer balls that provide an opportunity to make a difference. We couldn’t do this without the support of coaches, players, and parents who choose Senda whenever they need soccer equipment.

We want to thank everybody who has supported us in the last two years, and invite everyone who loves soccer to join us!

Senda, All the Way in Alaska

Posted on May 31, 2012 by in Fair Trade, Soccer Balls

A Senda RIO Futsal ball in Alaska!

Senda takes pride in having some of the best soccer supporters out there: people who love the game unconditionally!

In this guest blog post from Patrick Solana Walkinshaw, living in Dillingham, Alaska, he tells us how he fought to keep the game alive in the coldest of circumstances:

Moving to rural Alaska has been a family adventure. We wanted to get away from the hectic city lifestyle, be in nature, and get to know our community. We have made some sacrifices to live here, but the one thing we haven’t been willing to give up is playing soccer. Given that the only grass in the community is the softball field and a small muddy patch near a playground, I decided to try my luck indoors. After a year of assuring school maintenance officials that soccer can be played indoors without balls breaking down walls and windows, in the fall of 2011, I started a futsal programs for ages 12 and up. Given that there are no sporting good stores in my community, I went online in search of a futsal I could rely on. I was pleased to see that there was a Fair Trade option through Senda because I support an economic system that treats our global community with respect and fairness. I am now positively connected through my little community in Alaska, to a small business in California, and to factory workers overseas. Thanks Senda!

Patrick Solana Walkinshaw

Dillingham, ALASKA

Patrick, a lover of soccer and a supporter of Senda, playing in Alaska.

Senda Arrives in Pakistan to Hear Stories Behind Fair Trade

Posted on May 10, 2012 by in Blog, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Stitchers, Soccer Balls

Senda Fair Trade Soccer Balls in Pakistan

After a long 14 hour journey and a bit of jetlag, I arrived in the city of Sialkot, Pakistan to visit the place where Senda’s Fair Trade soccer balls are produced. I couldn’t be more excited to be here and have the opportunity to meet the people behind each Senda soccer ball. I will be staying here for 10 days, and will be uploading posts and stories of my experience.

I am lucky to have a great host, Ehsan, who picked me up at the airport this morning. He has been educating me on local culture and also helps me communicate with workers.

My first impression was that people take a great amount of pride in their work, and that they enjoy meeting someone who came from so far away to see them.

A smile and kindness can do wonders and are universal communication tools that can span language barriers. I am looking forward to visiting the homes of some of the workers, learning how to stitch a ball from them, and hearing personal stories of how people’s lives have been improved thanks to Fair Trade.

Tomorrow, I will learn more about the entire production process of a Senda ball. We will look at a quality control process that guarantees Senda’s soccer balls match or surpass the quality of competitors across the board.

Remember, there is a face behind every Senda soccer ball you purchase. Help us support the factory workers and their right to make a fair wage. 

Senda stitchers in Pakistan