Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading solar energy company and one of the world's largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, which holds the brand "Yingli Solar," announced that it will host a "Switching On" Ceremony for the Mathare Football for Hope Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Among the distinguished guests will be Lucas Radebe, the former South Africa captain and FIFA ambassador for Football for Hope.
Yingli Green Energy, an Official Sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), provides its expertise in solar energy to power "20 Centres for 2010", the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM). This campaign is part of the Football for Hope movement, which is using the power of the game for positive social change. It is led by FIFA and streetfootballworld, a social profit organization that links relevant actors in the field of development through football, and their affiliates such as Yingli Green Energy. The Company provided the Mathare football pitch with solar-powered lighting systems, the state of the art off-grid lighting system will provide more than 1000 hours each year of pitch lighting at nighttime which allows the center much greater flexibility in its opening hours, so that the children and youths can utilize advanced renewable energy to play football in a safer and more comfortable environment.
2009 saw the beginning of the construction of the "20 Centres for 2010". During 2010, work progressed steadily at four centers in South Africa, Mali, Namibia and Kenya, which have been opened and are already hosting young people. Yingli Green Energy, an official supporter of the Football for Hope movement, continues to work closely in partnership with FIFA and streetfootballworld to design and supply the appropriate photovoltaic system solution for each individual center.
The Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) uses the centers for programs focused on the training and education of young people. The link between sport and the environment is used to drive schemes aimed at HIV/AIDS education, reducing instances of abuse and organizing clean-up groups to help prevent the spread of disease in the slums. The facilities will be accessed by around 50,000 young people per year.
"It is our great pleasure to celebrate the "Switching On" Ceremony of the Mathare Football for Hope Center today. The pitch lighting essentially extends the utilization of the center and allows many more young people access to its benefits. We are looking forward to see more solar-powered centers in the future. Our mission is to make green energy a sustainable and cost-effective energy for all, and this center embodies a great step forward towards this goal", said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy.
"I am very glad to witness how FIFA and Yingli Solar are supporting MYSA in Kenya and many other organisations across Africa in using football to inspire and help young people in achieving their goals. The solar-power will allow the services and opening hours of the centre to be expanded. This will be to the full benefit of the young people and the entire community," said Lucas Radebe, former Captain of Bafana Bafana and Football for Hope Ambassador.