REEV signs a business partnership with SOLTILO, the company co-run by Keisuke Honda
REEV Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Watanabe), an esports trading company that runs Gaming English lessons and aims to solve social issues around the world through esports, has entered into a business partnership with SOLTILO Inc. (Suita, Osaka; CEO: Yasutsune Oshima), which runs football schools, facilities and overseas professional clubs produced by Keisuke Honda. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, the two companies held an esports experience session and an esports talk for children of AGAPE HOPE for KIBERA, a school in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Kenya.
Press release on the partnership (Japanese):
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000007.000083031.html
Background
This is a joint project by REEV Inc. and SOLTILO Inc., both active in Japan and abroad, to widen children's future possibilities through sports and esports.
In Kibera and other low-income areas of Africa, REEV wants to grow the number of children who can create their own future, rather than depending only on donations and material aid.
To show children how to express their talents and ideas to the world, and the joy and possibilities that come with it, REEV has run the following projects with Kibera-born pro gamer Brian "BEAST" Diang'a, Vice President of Team REEV Kenya (BEAST):
Africa IT Education Project https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000083031.html
Kibera NFT Project https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000083031.html
Since December 2017, SOLTILO has run AFRICA DREAM SOCCER TOUR, a charity project that coaches football free of charge to refugee children and children in slums facing economic inequality, to give children around the world opportunities and help their hidden talents bloom. It has coached about 1,500 children in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
It also creates chances to develop talents beyond football and introduces children to jobs outside their neighborhoods to widen their dreams.
The two companies met while running projects in Africa. Sharing the wish to "give everyone an environment and opportunity to chase their dreams, regardless of where they were born or grew up", they formed this partnership and carried out the project.
Project details
Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Program: An esports experience session for children of AGAPE HOPE for KIBERA, a school in Kibera, and an esports talk by Kibera-born pro gamer BEAST
Venue: Itoiz gaming, a gaming cafe in Kibera
Project team: REEV Inc., SOLTILO Inc., AGAPE HOPE for KIBERA
The esports experience session
BEAST's talk
Six students from AGAPE HOPE for KIBERA took part, joined by children living in Kibera and local media, and the event was a great success. One child asked BEAST, "Didn't you get scolded for playing games all the time?" He answered, "My parents often scolded me, but once I started winning prize money, nobody complained anymore." Drawing on his own experience, BEAST also told the children that "even if you are born in a slum, if you master something, it can become your profession and you can succeed on the world stage", giving many of them courage.
About SOLTILO Inc.
Under its philosophy of "giving dreams and hope to the world and continuing to inspire through sports", SOLTILO runs SOLTILO FAMILIA SOCCER SCHOOL, produced by Keisuke Honda, at 50 schools in Japan and 8 overseas, as well as sports facilities in Japan (3 facilities) and overseas football clubs (Cambodia and Uganda). AFRICA DREAM SOCCER TOUR supported by SHOWA GLOVE started in December 2017 to "give as many children as possible options for independence".
Project website:
In addition to free football coaching for children facing unequal opportunities in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda (such as children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and street children), it offers chances to develop talents beyond football to widen their future career options.
In 2020 it won HERO's OF THE YEAR, the grand prize of the HERO's AWARD run by The Nippon Foundation. https://sportsmanship-heros.jp/award/09bd4dc39e8c1b81be0107e653f40a8db7675074.html
