SELECT has never used child labor.

But in 1995 we were accused of doing so in a TV-documentary made by Norwegian Television (NRK). The documentary was also shown in Denmark. We immediately provided documentation that this accusation was completely false. One week later Danish TV broadcast a retraction and apologized. We lodged a complaint with the Norwegian Broadcasting Board of Complaints and were cleared in December, 1995. NRK was ordered to broadcast a retraction and to pay us compensation.

But...already before the accusations, we had taken the initiative to begin our aid program, SAHEP.

All of our balls are produced by our close associate for almost 25 years, Anwar Khawaja Industries in Pakistan. In the factory the football panels are prepared – but according to old Pakistani tradition, the actual stitching takes place in small and large stitching centers in the villages surrounding AK's factory. Geographically it was therefore difficult to reach all employees and their families in order to provide them with the benefits the factory workers already had. That is why we started SAHEP. SAHEP is divided into two parts, Education and Health.

EDUCATION:
All our employees’ children receive free education, either in state schools or from one of our 6 private teachers who drive around to the villages and teach the children in small groups. The adult education for our stitchers, their spouses and older children takes place in the stitching centers in the evenings.

HEALTH:
All of our stitching families receive free healthcare. With their SAHEP health card in hand they receive free treatment and medicine from a number of local doctors, specialists and hospitals. A health team, consisting of a nurse, a midwife and a teacher visit the various villages and treat minor illnesses, give vaccinations and teach such subjects as hygiene, infant care, nutrition and family planning.

In total, nearly 5000 people are part of the Health Program – and more than 800 children receive free education.