By Tim Dudding

Albion's Football in the Community team are set to bring happiness to children in Africa this summer when they form part of a special international project in Burkina Faso called Coaching For Hope.

Seagulls coaches Darren Teague, Dave Jupp and Jacob Naish will fly out to Ouagadougou along with four other coaches from QPR and Hull City to deliver a week-long football course for 90 orphans in the Burkina Faso capital.

The initiative is being backed by the FA, who are providing training equipment that will be left out in Burkina Faso for use once the week is over.

The team will also be passing on their expertise to 25 trainee football coaches, in order that local football schemes may develop and access to football in the region can be improved.

In addition to the football side of the operation, the team, in association with international non-governmental organisation International Service, will also work to tackle serious health problems.

Dave Jupp, Darren Teague and Jacob Naish with 90 pairs of boots!

Burkina Faso is one of the worst-affected countries by AIDS and HIV in Africa, and so by educating the football coaches and young children the scheme hopes to raise awareness of key health issues, as well as children's rights.

Darren Teague, Social Inclusion Football Development Officer at the Albion, said, "It's a fantastic opportunity for all the coaching staff involved. I feel it will be a life-changing experience for myself, the other coaches, and the young people taking part in the project.

"It's even more exciting as it's a pilot scheme and we will be leading the way for other football clubs to follow. It's something I'm really proud to be a part of."

The Football in the Community team will be taking 90 pairs of football boots with them - one for each of the orphaned child taking part in the scheme - all donated by Albion's Community Scheme staff, friends and players.

The team leave for Burkina Faso on 16th July and will report back to seagulls.co.uk on their return from this amazing experience.