📖 The Story
How a sock ball became a world collection
A simple idea, a network of helpers all over the world — and, over the years, the world's largest collection of home-made street footballs.
The beginning
Inspired by a “sock ball” from Africa, given to him by a missionary friend, Hans-Martin Haist — who ran the EIGEN-SINN children's and youth workshop in Freudenstadt in the Black Forest, and liked to build his work around sport, in particular “the round leather” — began contacting street workers, social workers and church staff around the world, asking them to send him such home-made balls.
And so, from 2005, a collection unique in the world came into being — around 250 balls from more than 40 countries, impressive for their craftsmanship and materials, but above all for the stories attached to them.
Hans-Martin's appeal
Hans-Martin Haist invited people all over the world to collect with him — in his own words:
“From a simple idea has grown the world's largest collection and exhibition of home-made street footballs, along with wonderful pictures and videos from around the world. … Please collect with us; together we create a unique work of art and a memorial against materialism. We have already achieved a great deal, and we want more. Thank you for being part of it — our collection makes SENSE.”— Hans-Martin Haist, “Achieving a great deal with very little”
Our mission: “See globally – act locally”
The aim of the exhibition is to bring the situation of street children and disadvantaged children into the public eye. After all, there are over 100 million street children in the world. Through the exhibition, these children are meant to be heard and seen.
True to the motto “See globally – act locally”, the exhibition builds a bridge from the fascination of football to hands-on help — to the “children's workshop” EIGEN-SINN based in Freudenstadt. The proceeds from these activities secure professional support for the children cared for there.
Hans-Martin Haist
Hans-Martin Haist founded the EIGEN-SINN children's and youth workshop in Freudenstadt in 1999 and ran it as managing director from its opening. From 2005 he also gathered this unique collection. He passed away in 2023. What he began lives on.
Carrying it on
In 2023 Hans-Martin showed me the collection and entrusted it to me — asking me to continue his work. That is exactly what I do: preserve the collection, make it visible, and carry it on in his spirit.