Former Lions coach Andy Keast has been looking for ways to help fight child poverty and illness in South Africa, where he now lives.

Mr Keast has decided to focus on helping a charity named Soul of Africa having coached various rugby teams including the Natal Sharks, Harlequins, London Irish and Worcester. Soul of Africa employs the sewing skills of rural black South Africans to raise money for the many orphans of Aids victims.

Mr Keast is currently promoting a range of personalised hand-stitched leather footballs that will be on sale to fans at the 2010 World Cup. He believes this “beautifully simple concept” helps the people involved without taking away their dignity in any way. Workers are paid a wage, while profits are used to build and staff day care centres as well as funding medical staff and supplies.

The charity was established by Lance Clark of Clark shoes, and South African shoe manufacturer Sarah Gedye. A range of moccasins is already being sold through Clarks and all profits are donated back into the charity.