On October 15th, 2019 the Alive and Kicking Ghana board made the decision to cease operations at Alive and Kicking Ghana and pass management onto a local partner. Since 2013 the operation has worked hard to reach the point of self-sustainability, where ball sales are enough to finance the everyday running of the centre as well as contribute to the donation of sports balls and sports-based health education programmes. Despite the best efforts of the Alive and Kicking network and its supporters, the centre has not managed to breakeven on a regular basis and therefore is no longer fulfilling its mission.
Over the past six years Alive and Kicking Ghana has created over 200 ethical jobs for adults facing economic and social disadvantage, given over 1,000,000 young people access to sport through ball donations and given over 20,000 children access to vital health education programmes. This impact is thanks to the fantastic Alive and Kicking Ghana employees and you, the Alive and Kicking supporter network. Moving forward, the health education programmes will continue to be delivered in country with a focus on malaria, HIV and mental health, thanks to the strong relationships the Ghana operation has built with local partners.
In order to continue the positive impact, Alive and Kicking Ghana has negotiated a local management takeover. Although Alive and Kicking Ghana no longer operates, locally made sports balls will continue to be produced by Pleimeiker Sports, a Ghanaian-run sports equipment business that operates as a for-profit but will continue to employ people who face social and economic disadvantage while contributing a percentage of profit toward Ghanaian sport for good projects. As part of the takeover, the new owners must continue to offer the same employee benefits to Alive and Kicking Ghana employees, including safe working conditions, a fair wage and access to a pension scheme. As a result, the Alive and Kicking mission can continue to be fulfilled, only this time led by a local partner organisation.
Thank you again to the Alive and Kicking Ghana team and our charity supporters who have helped make a significant social and economic impact over the past six years.
