Hi everyone,

My name is Cheick, and I recently organized a soccer gear drive with families from my local club in Iowa to support young players back home in Mali, West Africa. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the VSA community, we’ve collected jerseys, soccer balls, shorts, socks, jackets, soccer cleats, and soccer bags, all donated with love to give these kids a real team identity and a sense of pride.

The kids in Mali have the heart and hunger to succeed, but they often train with limited resources. Their coaches do an amazing job with what they have, yet there isn’t enough proper gear for everyone. Some players share equipment or wear worn-out items, but they still show up every day with passion and determination.

Earlier this year, I completed my first gear drive and shipped large boxes from Iowa to Atlanta, Georgia, where they’re ready to be sent to Mali. With the new VSA jerseys coming out this season, I began another round of collecting to include older gear families no longer need. These new items will also be shipped to Atlanta to join the first shipment.

Now, the final step is getting everything from Atlanta to Mali. I didn’t realize how expensive the international shipping would be, and that’s why I’m asking for help.

Shipping items from the United States to Mali typically takes several months. I first have to ship the goods by truck from Iowa to Atlanta, then a company will ship them by sea from the U.S. to Africa, and finally delivers them by truck from Dakar, Senegal to Bamako, Mali.

Every contribution, no matter how small, helps make it possible to deliver these items to the kids who need them most. Your support will help them look and feel like a true team, and remind them that people across the world believe in their dreams.

Thank you for helping bring joy, pride, and opportunity to the next generation of players in Mali.

Cheick Bally