Accra, July 29, GNA - Organization of Rural Primary Education Developers (ORPED) - Ghana, a child development non-governmental organization has initiated the Million Balls Project for African Children in Accra.

The Million Balls Project is an initiative to solicit and distribute a million balls to children across Africa as part of activities preceding Africa's twin soccer events slated for 2010 - the Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup in Angola and South Africa respectively.

It is also aimed at putting smiles on the faces of ordinary African Children and advocating for peace in African Communities by using children as the focal point. The project will also seek to nurture talents of young Africans in sports and also motivate them to concentrate on their education, thus living the ORPED slogan of 'Learning Hard Pays Well.' Mr Charles Cobbina - Executive Director of ORPED told the GNA Sport that his outfit had taken steps to solicit for funds from corporate bodies and prominent African personalities and friends of the continent for the implementation of the project. He said the balls would be distributed to children, young people, and soccer loving communities and institutions across the African continent.

Mr Cobbina said the event would also serves as a count down to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, adding "Every ball will go to a community with a message of a new Africa ready to win." According to Mr Cobbina the distribution will be done through a network of civil society organizations spread all over Africa. He said the project would enable African children and young people with hidden talents to be discovered and provided with the chance to play the beautiful game.

The Project will be officially launched in October 2008, in Accra, with four other African countries participating.