Crispin Mason-Jones, a 64-year-old from Newcastle, is appealing for financial help to continue sending football kits and sporting equipment to schools and teams in Mfuwe, Zambia. Since 2022, he has shipped items, including Newcastle United kits, to the Eastern Province town with the support of local charity Project Luangwa and the National Police Aid Charity (NPAC), which provided containers for transport.
Charity partner ceases operations
NPAC has now ceased operations, meaning Mason-Jones must either pay higher commercial shipping rates or arrange his own container. Both options carry significant costs. He and his wife, Dr Ellie Bond, who grew up in Zambia, became involved during a visit to the country.
Mason-Jones said: "After the journey started, and I committed myself to supporting the people in Mfuwe, it was soon clear how much of a difference it was making. We seemed to be having a real impact, as it is so important that young people are able to play with proper equipment."
Shipping costs and fundraising
He explained that shipping costs around £1,000 per pallet, and they would fill about four pallets with current stock. The fundraising effort also aims to ship Astroturf for a multi-sport cage. The GoFundMe page had raised £1,079 at the time of writing.
Mason-Jones said: "We kept trying to expand our approach, as it became clear that more teams, and then schools, needed our help too. We then found out that NPAC has run its course as a charity, and I now have a garage full of kit, which we want to send over in the best way possible."
Football's role in conservation
The main issues facing Mfuwe residents are poaching and habitat loss from population expansion. Mason-Jones believes football helps prevent these problems by keeping young people engaged in sport rather than poaching or cutting down trees. Tourism revenue depends on wildlife, so protecting the environment is vital.
He added: "A lot of the education in the area is based in football, if young people are playing, and huge crowds are watching the games, then they are not out poaching, or destroying the environment by cutting down the trees, so it does have a direct impact." Donations can be made through the fundraising page.
