“No man is an island”: the John Donne aphorism that is applied to personal relationships and isolationist nations in equal measure. We see it all the time in our world: A tennis player thanking their coaches; a head chef crediting the waiter; a pupil appreciating a teacher; a friend, reaching out for the hand of another. Islands, we are not.

In the charity sector, everyone thinks their mission is the most vital on the circuit. And rightly so. It takes genuine passion and unwavering belief in a goal to make it come to fruition. But this tunnel vision can lead to missed opportunities; conversations and partnerships that can benefit everyone, falling into the sea that keeps the island from the mainland.

It is crucial to understand that beneath the waters of seeming separation, the seabed connects land to land. Communities and companies, individuals and collectives, are tied together in a global partnership, built on a bedrock of a shared planet, and a shared moral compass with which to navigate. When ACE was in its first phase of development, we had no idea if we were built on sand or rock. Were we an island, an archipelago, or the mainland?

‍

TeamArchie’s partnership with ACE is one of the most fruitful and helpful pairings in showing us how much teamwork and a shared goal can bring disparate communities together.

TeamArchie have been our most avid supporters in the past two years. Since our partnership in 2018, they have sponsored children in our projects, keeping track of their progress, and watching as they make a direct impact on the lives of youths in Rio. 

From Cambodian children to table tennis in Marylebone, TeamArchie seeks out youths who have been marginalized by the global community and gives them the tools they need to build their own futures; futures that would not be possible without TeamArchie’s dedication and support. 

‍

They provide sports bursaries around the world to help children continue to break the ceilings under which they stoop. Please take a moment to look at their fantastic work (insert link to website). 

We are eternally grateful for their support, and the partnership we have created is making huge progress for the communities we both hope can flourish. No community is an island, and TeamArchie is sending boats and building bridges, to provide access to the mainland.

‍