History

Paddy O’Malley, one of the most influential people that Mike Mitchell ever knew and also a former team mate of his (Chico State Soccer & San Francisco Glens) told him just before he left for his Peace Corps service to Niger, West Africa, “Pack as many soccer balls as possible and bring them with you to Niger, you are going to one of the poorest regions in the world,” — that’s how it all started.

Mike meets Hadiza, a Nigerien girl who loved to kick the ball around.

“This beautiful young woman was given to me in a village in Niger in 1984 by her mother asking me if I would adopt her, she wanted her daughter to have the essentials of life, namely FOOD. We are all very lucky to be able to eat, as there are children starving to death right now on our planet. Please don't complain if your stomach is full!"

— Mike Mitchell

Mike Mitchell finishes his Master’s degree thesis: “A manual for the implementation of Project Play Niger.”

James Mas (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer 2007-2009) came up with the idea to make soccer nets out of plastic bags littering the country side surrounding his post in Dosso, Niger back in 2008 when he got actively involved in Project Play (see video).

“Today we will take his idea to the next level, as the biggest change I saw after my departure in Niger (1985) after 23 years was the amount of garbage I saw littering the landscape, it was very sad, but thanks to James and his creativity, we turn a negative into a positive.”

— Mike Mitchell

100,000 kids in 1400 schools are now a part of Project Play Soccer for the next 50 to 100 years as the 11,700 One World balls delivered last year are the most durable ball in the world.

Project Play visits World Thinking Day in Pleasanton.