In rural Rwanda, soccer gear doesn’t come from a sporting goods store — and as in many other aspects of life, resourcefulness and creativity play a big part. In the skillful hands of a child, recycled items take shape and transform into a ball, enabling groups of soccer-hungry kids to start a game.
Here’s how to make a soccer ball:
- Gather cloth rags, plastic and paper shopping bags, newspapers, and twine.
- Crumple one bag into a small ball, which will be the center of the finished ball.
- Layer other bags, newspaper, and cloths over the center, taking care to keep the ball round and push out air pockets with each layer.
- For the last layer, cover the ball with the thickest bag.
- Wrap the ball with twine, pulling tightly and making a web of knots to cover the entire ball.
- Bounce the ball on the ground a few times to see if any parts come loose; if so, cover with more twine and knots.
Did you try your hand at making a soccer ball? We want to see your finished product! Send your photos to us at [email protected], or tag us @worldvisionusa on Instagram or Facebook.
