Ragball International: Connecting Youth Via Soccer

Posted on 13 May 2010

By Mariana Andrade

This post is part of this blog’s Sport & Development series. It is based on a conversation with Jeff DeCelles, co- founder of Ragball International along with Ian Oliver.

Passion for soccer is such a universal sentiment that children all over the world, no matter what their socio-economic condition, will find a way to play the game.  In South Africa, they make soccer balls out of fruit bags and newspapers, in Uganda they use banana leaves, and in Ethiopia coffee bags are the material of choice. Children also want an education, they dream of becoming lawyers and doctors but do not always have the means to fulfill their goals.

Jeff DeCelles understands that children are capable of realizing their dreams if they are given the right tools. He recognized that the widespread love of soccer and the creativity it inspires could be harnessed to provide entrepreneurial development and income generation for youth, giving them the opportunity to have a better education and future. 

Ragball International was founded in South Africa as a means for teenagers to earn money by crafting and selling balls. They are mentored by country director Lunga Sidzumo, who teaches them how to run a small business and how to manage money, giving them the skills and tools to save and invest for their future. According to DeCelles, the last thing that they want is for the kids to drop out of school to make Ragballs, so they have to maintain good grades in order to continue as part of the program.  

Thousands of Ragballs have already been sold in the U.S., where they have become somewhat of a cult item amongst high school and college students. This loyal fan base is very engaged because Ragball International enables them to learn about the teenagers they are helping and to feel more connected to them. Each ball comes with a player card containing information about the youth who made it and, to promote cross-cultural exchange, the organization also works to link youth in the U.S. with youth in Ragball International.

Ragball International is currently operating in Khayelitsha, South Africa where teenagers produce the Urban Township Ball and is looking to expand to other countries to help more children and be able to offer a variety of very different Ragballs that its fans will be able to collect. 

Ragball International’s unique approach is a mix of artistry and business savvy. The organization understands that to effectively help youth in developing countries, it has to engage the appropriate segment in the developed world. By targeting the socially conscious soccer fan in the U.S. and appealing to their love of the game and their willingness to help others, Ragball International uses the power of soccer to connect youth in different continents.  

Mariana Andrade is a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is a big proponent of sport as a transformational agent for social and economic development.