Africa As One delivers rugby to all of Africa

In South Africa, the Springbok national rugby team is very well-known. The rest of Africa, give or take a few other countries, however, isn’t as up to speed on rugby, and is currently getting a crash course from DHL ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

On a continent synonymous with soccer, the bright yellow Africa As One rugby ball sticks out like a sore thumb, but we hope that will help the tour generate keen interest in the game.

The DHL Africa As One rugby ball is making its way through 45 countries over 50,000 kilometers across Africa. The trip started in South Africa in October and wraps up in England at the start of the Rugby World Cup in September 2015. The goal is to spread the love of rugby across the entire continent.

At each stop (eight countries and counting), DHL has put on rugby fairs for kids to teach them the basics of the game. The hope is that rugby in these countries can someday grow in popularity like it has in South Africa and the rest of the world.

“I think rugby in this country is still young,” said Pieter Muller, a South African Springbok Legend who led a recent rugby fair in Lesotho. “It needs to be developed. They need to put a lot of effort in the schools and the system and getting that going.” 
 
Getting to know Africa

With the DHL Africa As One rugby ball making an appearance at every stop, there is no denying that rugby is at the heart of the ambitious tour through Africa. However, the tour is about so much more than that. It’s about making an impact in Africa and showcasing Africa to the rest of the world in all her beauty.

Driving across all these countries, every step of the journey, every person, every place and every pass will be captured on film, in photographs and words and then shared with Africa and the world.

Each stop – accompanied by a video posted on the DHL Africa YouTube page – is an opportunity to get to know the people of Africa. Through the videos, photos and daily blog posts, followers can admire the intricate handcrafts of Swaziland, the relationship between Lake Malawi and the people living near it, or the customs and traditions of the Maasai in Tanzania.
 
“I think that we have a lot in common,” said Marcus Gora, who manages an Afro Fusion band called Mokoomba in Zimbabwe, of his fellow Africans. “We should be celebrating and exploring our languages and cultures.”
 
Making a difference
 
DHL is hoping to make a lasting impact on the countries we visit as well. We have given over a thousand free eye check-ups and have been able to give away hundreds of eyeglasses for free thanks to our partnership with Mercy Ships.
 
“It’s a real life-changing experience,” said Mohau Ralekhetla, an optometrist taking part in the Africa As One tour. “The way their faces have changed from the time you arrive and after you have helped them, it’s amazing.”

In addition to the rugby fairs and free eye tests and glasses, we are distributing over half a million units of stationery to young kids across Africa during the tour.
 
The DHL Africa As One team just wrapped up their stop in Sudan and will soon continue on their journey toward England for the Rugby World Cup 2015. Until then, be sure and follow DHL Africa on Facebook, on Twitter, or on YouTube for more. You can also follow the journey on the Africa As One website for daily updates on images, videos and blogs. 45 countries. 50,000 kilometers. One Ball. One Voice. That’s DHL Africa As One!