Dreamballs are hand stitched leather footballs that adhere to professional standards and are created by social enterprise Alive and Kicking, an ethical football manufacturer whose aim is to support local communities in Kenya, Zambia and Ghana by providing ethical jobs and contributing to training local community coaches and school teachers.

Designed by the talented young minds of the global UNHCR Youth with Refugees Art Contest, these balls are not just sports equipment; they are a symbol of solidarity and empowerment. Among this year’s artists you will find refugees and youths with an open heart who have relied on their experience with sports to create these wonderful designs.

Dreamball John was designed by John, a young refugee from Kenya.

“This design shows how sport brings people together and creates love and unity. When people play together, it keeps them united in their communities.” - he wrote.

John is a student in the Instant Network Schools (INS) programme, which is an education initiative of Vodafone Foundation and UNHCR, though which young refugees, host communities and their teachers access digital learning. To date the programme has reached over 260,000 students and 4400 teachers across six countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Sudan. If you would like to find out more about the Instant Network Schools programme please reach out to Rose Fittler (fittler@unhcr.org)