Orlando Children’s Home is an orphanage just outside Johannesburg catering for children who have been abandoned by their parents.  The home offers services to deal with problems of abandonment, neglect and abuse of children, looking after 60 children ranging from 3 months to 20 years old.

Rufus Hall says, “Project Fair Play is a fantastic way to recycle kit to those  children who will not get the chance to buy their own.  It’s great to know our customers are helping bring the spirit of the World Cup to disadvantaged youngsters at home, as well as in South Africa.” 

He adds, “It was a very humbling and rewarding experience, especially seeing the joy on a child’s face as they embraced a donated football shirt.”

Orchid’s Project Fair Play scheme kicked off in February with a ‘Shirt Amnesty’ asking locals to donate unwanted kit.  In total, a staggering 20,000 shirts were collected, clearly demonstrating the passion for football that exists amongst locals in pubs up and down the UK.

Each of the donated shirts was washed, dried, counted, shrink-wrapped, sealed and packed before heading off to South Africa in time for the World Cup.

In addition to the ‘Shirt Amnesty’ the pubs are raising money throughout the World Cup period to fund sports projects for disadvantaged kids.  UK charity KidsOut will benefit and funds will also help build a new sports ground at the Ukhanyo School in Masiphumelele (near Cape Town).  Here, Orchid will supply ‘Alive & Kicking’ footballs which carry health messages about HIV, to help educate the kids through the medium of football.

For hi-res images, please email pr@orchidgroup.co.uk