The partnership will see the DreamEvent hosted at Orange Farm, where the project first began in 2007. Three schools will each be presented with a DreamBag, which provides a team with a complete set of kit, including boots and "everything a team needs to walk out onto the field, ready to take on the world", says project founder John Perlman. "The sponsors, via their investment in DreamBags, are helping us to grow dreams."
Aside from teams playing under the banners of World Wide Worx and e.tv, a team will also be sponsored by Gadget.co.za, World Wide Worx's consumer technology magazine, which is celebrating its 12th year as a South African online hi-tech publication. The magazine has focused strongly on coverage of football-related hi-tech news in the run-up to the Confederations Cup in South Africa this June and next year's World Cup finals.
"We're a football-mad organisation, and could think of no more appropriate way to give something back to the community," says Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, a South African independent technology market research organisation.
The Dreamfields Project also works in partnership with the Department of Education and together they have staged 40 schools tournaments, known as DreamEvents, where DreamBags are handed out to all the schools in a particular town or district.
The Orange Farm school teams that will receive their DreamBags on Wednesday are the under-12 teams of Podumo Primary, Lesedi la Kreste Primary and Ahanang Primary. They will vie for a trophy that will be jointly presented by World Wide Worx and e.tv.
Says Michelle Kirby, e.tv head of marketing and corporate social investment: "e.tv is very proud to be associated with a project that not only provides for our young budding football stars now, but that will take them to 2014 and beyond."
Two major corporate sponsors, Old Mutual and BHP Billiton, have covered the running costs of the Dreamfields Project, so that sponsors of DreamBags are assured that every rand donated goes to the young footballers.
Wherever possible, the project buys services and goods from local entrepreneurs, so that the DreamEvent puts something back into the host community and deepens commitment to the ongoing football leagues that education officials will continue to run.
The Dreamfields Project is also committed to finding low-cost low-maintenance solutions to field building, especially in areas where water is a scarce and unaffordable resource. So far, it has built seven football fields in rural areas.
Today's tournament will take place at the Chris Hani Sports Complex, 15752 Ext 4, Orange Farm, Johannesburg.
For more information, go to www.dreamfieldsproject.org
