It seems soccer balls are a common way to solve societal problems.  Alive & Kicking is a UK based charitable social enterprise that manufactures soccer balls in Africa to create fair employment and educate young people about HIV/AIDS.  In the most literal sense, it is keeping Africans alive and kicking.

The organization has been stitching together soccer balls since 2004 and currently employs over 150 people in two workshops in Kenya and Zambia.  Its operations are self-sustaining in Africa through the sale of balls, and its London headquarters is funded through grants, donations, and a percentage of sales.

Alive & Kicking hopes children have affordable access to sporting activities.  Every ball distributed has simple health messages printed on to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and malaria.  They take it a step further by using the balls in HIV/AIDS education sessions where possible.  Alive & Kicking Kenya carries out annual HIV/AIDS roadshows to spread messages in rural parts of the country.

Photo courtesy of Alive & Kicking.