The indestructible soccer ball

What do you get when you mix an eager philanthropist with a world-renowned rock star?

If this were any other scenario the answer would be Bono.

The real answer is a nearly indestructible soccer ball for children in developing countries. It’s the brainchild of Tim Jahnigen, who thought of the idea while watching a film about refugees and soccer. In these communities, balls are hard to come by and children often resort to creating makeshift soccer balls out of trash, rocks, and twine. Jahingen was so moved by the film that he set out to make an indestructible soccer ball that he hoped to distribute to children around the world. That’s where the rockstar comes in. While the idea was still in its concept stage, Jahnigen had a chance encounter with Sting. Yes, that Sting. Their brief conversation gripped Sting so much that he provided the initial costs to get the project up and running. Jahnigen’s luck didn’t stop there. Soon, Chevrolet signed on and rolled out a three year plan to help him distribute 1.5 million of his indestructible soccer balls around the world. The ball is made from a rubbery material that creates a flexible yet durable product. What makes it unique is the fact that unlike other athletic balls, this one doesn’t need a pump to inflate and it never goes flat – even if it’s punctured.

One World Futbol, the organization that is producing the ball, also ensures that the unique soccer balls are made using state-of-the-art technology versus child labor which is often the case in other athletic goods. To date, Jahigen and One World Futbol have distributed over 200,000 balls, and have an additional 1 million already produced. With a one-for-one model, similar to Toms, they expect to increase production and distribution in the years to come.

One World Futbol isn’t the only place where eager philanthropists and world-renowned rockstars get together. Enter the Fourth Estate Leadership Summit. Much like the One World Futbol collaborative, The Summit is a gathering of the brightest minds working together to solve some the world’s biggest problems. 1,400 hand-selected young activists and educators are gathering at the UCLA campus on August 8-11th to interact with experts and innovators in the fields of film, business, journalism, economics, and international justice. We want you to be one of them. Apply to The Fourth Estate Leadership Summit today.