Part II of MY PROMISE ... back to Orlando ... the little boy of the cover of AMEN.

Its was Jan 2009 when I first started my project AMEN about football in Africa, here I am three years later and the heart of the project is still beating strongly, in fact I couldn't quite imagine my life without it.

It always takes me a while to digest things.  Back from Mozambique after part II of my PROMISE and I'm just realizing how amazing this project has been.  Not only for me as an artist, but for my football friends who received equipment to keep playing the game they love, and not to forget all the people who have written to me because in some way they were touched by the project.

I want to share my struggles with you, as its often what I find interesting in other people's stories... and it gets things off my chest.

During the World Cup in South Africa FIFA ordered numerous copies of my book to give to the delegates.  They wrote a letter inside the book which basically adressed the rest of Africa, all those talented players who start with nothing.  It was often called Africa's cup, yet in my mind the whole continent was left out.  One could only buy tickets if one had a VISA card... imagine that.  They chose Shakira to sing at the opening ceremony when there are so many talented African artists.  And the list goes on.  Anyway my book was perfect for FIFA, as it spoke of all of the people that had been left out and forgotten.  They also jumped on the occasion to do a good deed... which was to fullfill my Promise (page 208 o AMEN book) to give back to all those in the book.  I was over the moon when I heard I would receive equipment.  I received from Adidas a very generous donation of 450 pairs of boots, shin pads and socks and 450 balls to distribute. 

Later, after the Cup was over and all the projectors were dimmed, the time came for me to get the equipment to the people.  I had always assumed they would help with the travel expenses and that in return I would provide them with a beautiful reportage of the emotional moments.  Silly naive me... they wouldn't participate in any costs.  In fact they didn't care.  It seemed like as far as they were concerned I could throw everything in the sea.  For them the importance was to look good during the World Cup.  I simply don't get it.  Multi million organizations who make a donation and just don't care if it gets into the hands of those that need it.  Its purely just to better their image.  To be honest it makes me furious, yet Im helpless.

So despite me struggling to make ends meet with this project, I managed to raise money for my travel expenses to deliver most of the equipment.  In Jan 2011  about 300 of those items were distributed in West Africa and  it has taken me until now to save up for my expenses to get back to Mozambique.  Sadly I didn't have enought money to get back to all the villages I worked in as it was just too far and petrol and the rental of a van were very expensive.  Maybe there will be a part III as I do have a little equipment remaining.

Here is the story of my travels with my little tribe.