Valletta (Agenzia Fides) - Soccer schools for children, the mission and a "sock-ball", a ball created with "socks", that is with the most varied recycled material, are the elements that will give life to the initiative "Socktober" made possible thanks to the collaboration of Missio Malta, the direction of the Maltese Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), the Maltese Football Federation (Malta FA) and the Inhobb il-Futbol Foundation.
The "Socktober" initiative, begun long ago in Australian schools, reaches Malta, but it does so in the football "quarries" with a view to Missionary October and World Mission Day.
"Through Socktober we want to reach children who attend football schools and communicate with them through a means they are familiar with, the ball - explained Robert Farrugia, head of communication and fundraising at Missio Malta -. We want to tell them stories of children of the same age who in many parts of the world create balls using the most diverse materials, with what they have. We want this to be a project that raises awareness among young people while having fun".
The aim of "Socktober" is to help children take into account the different social contexts in which many other children their age live, encouraging them to cultivate a look that goes beyond their own horizon and is attentive to the needs of others.
The "Socktober" is aimed at all children attending football schools in Malta and Gozo, and is scheduled for October and November. Meanwhile, the quarries will create specially organized workshops in which children will be invited to build their own "sock-ball" with recycled materials, such as paper, cloth and cardboard. (E.G.) (Agenzia Fides, 23/9/2022)