Engaging heads, hearts, hands ... and feet

Children playing soccer in Emdibir, Ethiopia, with a Sockball.

There has never been a more exciting year for Socktober. A scorching World Cup in Qatar looms at the year’s end, and the Socceroos have qualified with a last-gasp shootout win.

Many in Australia will view the men’s tournament as a curtain-raiser to the main event, the Women’s World Cup in Australia in 2023, where the Matildas again are a genuine chance at winning the trophy.

Whichever way you lean, it’s an exciting time to be involved in the round ball game. With soccer at the heart of its schools initiative, Catholic Mission is hoping the energy is at fever pitch by the time World Mission Month rolls around in October.

The national program is gearing up for a sixth year in its current format, which uses the world game to demonstrate common bonds between students in Australia and children in need overseas through a shared love of fun and games.

“With the Socceroos now assured of a World Cup berth, there is plenty of excitement building around the time Socktober hits our primary and secondary schools,” said Alan Wedesweiler, Diocesan Director for the Sydney, Parramatta and Broken Bay dioceses. “This year, Socktober will aim to channel students’ enthusiasm into getting active, kicking goals and supporting vulnerable children overseas.”

The initiative, which raised over $230,000 in 2021, will be supporting programs in Ethiopia in 2022. It encourages students in primary and early secondary school to securely register online, choose some goals to kick at school or at home, and get sponsored by family and friends, which helps provide children with nutritious food, education, healthcare, and spiritual nourishment.

“We hope to have many more schools and students across Australia engaged in the program this year, given we are relatively unencumbered by the pandemic,” says Alan. “I’ve been very proud to witness the growing participation of girls and boys who may just turn out for Australia in a World Cup one day.

“More importantly, they are learning about what it means to be good citizens of the world and then taking concrete action to support children to have access to their most basic needs.”

For more information about the Socktober program, register your interest today by scanning the QR code below or going to socktober.org.au. •

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