Solar Power Lights a Football Pitch in Iringa, Tanzania.

A FIFA Football for Hope project has just completed construction of Football for Hope Centre in Iringa and is expected to be launched end of this week.

Mr Jonnie Nkoma, the Director of Iringa Development of youth Disabled and ChildrenCare who are the local partner and beneficiary of the project said the construction that started in November 2012 has successful been completed with the installation of solar powered flood lights for a football pitch to enable youth train for few hours during the night.

The Director of IDYDC Mr Jonnie Nkoma speaks to TFF Secretary General Mr Angetile Osiah about the new Iringa Football for Hope Centre to be inaugurated this week. Left is Tabata Veteran member, Mr Ipyana Mwakasege (Source: www.idydc.or.tz)

“We are really happy that this project is finally complete” said Mr Nkoma. “Children will now have the opportunity of learning football skills in a well-developed-state-of-the-art pitch".

The Football for Hope Movement is the key element of the strategic alliance between FIFA and streetfootballworld and has executed similar initiative in various parts of the world. It was created to enhance dialogue and collaboration between locally active organizations advancing social development and football associations, committed clubs and players, professional leagues as well as involved commercial partners. The Movement aims to utilize the role of football in society in order to contribute to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The objective of the Football for Hope Movement is to establish a quality seal for sustainable social and human development programmes working with football as the central tool in the areas of Health Promotion, Peace Building, Anti-Discrimination & Social Integration, Children's Rights & Education and the Environment, thus supporting best practice in the field.

Each Football for Hope Centre will consist of a youth football pitch and a gathering space to house community-based social and economic programs. The programmes must be aimed at children and young people, and use football as an instrument to promote participation and dialogue.

The solar power equipment and floodlights were donated by Yingli Solar, a FIFA Sponsor and Phaesun France SAS of France. Ensol Tanzania Ltd, a renowned Solar PV Contractor in Tanzania executed the field installations.