WER has launched an exciting new programme to help bring football and sport to young people in some of South Africa's poorest communities as the country prepares to host the 2010 Football World Cup.

Working in partnership with South African charity Monte Christo Ministries (MCM), WER is developing a Football and Community Programme to help children within the underprivileged communities of Paarl East and Mbekweni in South Africa's Paarl valley to build a route out of poverty and to face a more hopeful future.

The programme includes the construction of a community centre and five football pitches, including two junior pitches, and a large playground for the younger children. Instead of spending their days on the streets, where they are vulnerable to the activities of gangs and drug dealers, the community centre and sports facilities will provide children of all ages with a safe place within which to develop their skills and talents and, most importantly of all, to have fun.

MCM has been working in the Paarl valley since 2004 and runs various poverty intervention programmes in the region, including AIDS care facilities, youth work initiatives and leadership training. The Football and Community Programme will incorporate the different elements of MCM's education and social work as we seek to enable children to develop into confident and educated young people with a positive future ahead of them.

Working together with Boots For Africa, Sheffield FC, Glasgow the Caring City and Coaching For Hope, WER and MCM have secured initial cash funding to kick-start the refurbishment of the football pitches and the construction of the community centre. We have also secured commitments of donated goods, including essential sports equipment.

WER is now seeking corporate sponsors to enable the completion of the project and to help make this dream a reality for South Africa's children. If you are passionate about football and interested in being a part of the development of this programme - from providing funding to coaching advice -we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please email info@wer-uk.org or call 0870 429 2129 today for more information. Thank you!