Jump to main content

Archive for November, 2008

Sleeping on planes

Until I began my first fortnight in this job by flying to Durban, I’d never been able to sleep on a plane.  But going into a series of meetings right off an overnight flight – it started to look like I’d better find out how, and soon. 

With the advice of my lovely nurse housemate, Ali, who is acquainted with the strange sleep patterns of shift work, I took my ear plugs, eye mask, lavender oil and piriton and trusted sleep would come.

It didn’t.  Until the flight home – after 10 days of meetings, late nights, discussion and a whirling brain.  And I SLEPT.

So, the answer to sleeping on a plane?  It’s pretty simple, really.  Be Really Tired.

So I’m hoping that the same principle will apply when we take off for Durban again on Sunday night.  These last 6 weeks, we’ve scarcely gone a day without a meeting. All very necessary to fill in the blanks of our proposal. 

We’ve come a long way since we were last in South Africa.  It’ll be great to share with our partners there the enthusiasm of UK organisations looking to get involved. Joining the dots – this is what we’re doing.

And hopefully getting a little sleep on the way.

Jenny

Published on: 28. 11. 2008 | Read more »

Kindness and Dignity

The SCWC is a great excuse to contact old friends. I emailed Neil Mullarkey this week for a favour and he was kind. So I told him that I always remember him as being kind. He emailed back saying that Henry James said, “there are only three things in life – to be kind, to be kind and to be kind” or something.

 

Last year in Durban, when we were there with our own kids, Tom Hewitt, Umthombo director, said that you can’t quite appreciate what it means to the streetkids to have someone stop and talk to them. To give them the time of day. To shake their hands, to listen, to smile and joke, to join in, to kick a football. He said that for some of the kids this might be the first time they have got to know someone white, and certainly the first time they had met a young person from Europe.

 

The SCWC  is about restoring dignity to children, and although shaking hands or chatting does not cost us a penny, it can be worth so much.

 

One small change I noticed in October 08 was that at the Umthombo reception centre/ safe space, the youngsters can now wash their own clothes, dry their own clothes and store their own clothes in the red personal mail boxes.  Clean clothes are something we take for granted, but imagine how much dignity is lost if you had to wear the same unwashed clothes for a month.

 

So let’s take on board Henry James’ advice and try to be continually kind.

 

John

 

 

Published on: 21. 11. 2008 | Read more »

Thinking big

How do we want the world to be different for street children?

The truth is, we want there to be enough good safety nets so that no child has to live on the streets.  If we could click our fingers, that’s what we’d all wish for – tonight.

But how do we get there?  That’s the real question – and it’s one for which there’s no simple answer.  Every child who ends up on the street has a different story – unique and tough challenges that have put them into a situation where there are no real choices. 

And that goes to the heart of this event and campaign.  It’s only by listening to individual street children that you can start to tackle the issues that have put them there.  That’s what our international partner organisations do so well.  One child at a time, they take on the issues that have brought them to the streets, and work with them to carve out a different story – one in which they can start to make positive choices about their future. 

So we want to make sure that policy makers get to hear these individual stories too.  We want them to know about the courage, resiliance and creativity of children who live on the streets.  We want them to see that they are extraordinary human beings – with human rights like every other citizen of their country.  We want to see them being granted those rights without limit. 

A world in which every street child is seen as a human being?  It’d be a good start.

jenny

Published on: 21. 11. 2008 | Read more »

Planning in colour

A planning calendar of the 15 months (15?!?) until the Street Child World Cup looks much more friendly since I gave nice pastel shades to each task.  Just a touch less terrifying.

Before Christmas, we want to have pinned down each of the organisations which will be working to bring teams from 8 different countries to take part in the event.  We also want to have a clearer picture of how we’re going to bring this event to the watching public with a TV company. 

And we’re squeezing in another trip to Durban to sign, seal and deliver our working relationship with the British Council, the Durban University of Technology, and other regional authorities. We’ll get a chance then to see Umthombo’s new ‘Safe Space’ officially opened.

Oh, and we want to move on with recruiting some high profile champions for the work. As well as some companies to get on board with us.

A colourful to-do list. 

But there’s encouragement along the way.  Earlier this week we met Casa Alianza, who work in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico to stand up for the rights of street children.  Their organisation was born out of fury that a street child was murdered – and no action was taken against the perpetrators.  After a long fight, they put pressure on the authorities to try the case – only the second time in Guatemala’s history that a prosecution has been brought in a case like this. 

This is the kind of feisty, uncompromising organisation we want to work with.  This is all about ensuring that children who’ve ended up living on the streets are treated like human beings – and that means shouting about it when they’re mistreated.

And the kids they work with play great football too.

Jenny

Published on: 14. 11. 2008 | Read more »

In praise of Mxolisi

 Artists are crucial to the 2010 Street Child World Cup.  

They will be giving a voice to Street Children from each of the countries involved. Artists will be crucial to the campaign, to the exhibition that allows visitors to Durban to experience what being a streetchild is like - and they are crucial to changing people’s perceptions of street children.  Not everyone is on the side of the streetkids but with the help of inspired artist facilitators, they will be.  

There are many ways into this but here is one.

 

Amos Trust took four families to visit Umthombo in July 2007 and as well as 10 UK schoolchildren between 7 and 17, there were 8 parents. They were writers and journalists, broadcasters, painters, potters, life coaches and me.  

They made a couple of YouTube vids (here’s one and here’s the other) about their experiences at Umthombo, and being creative types, they wanted to leave a creative legacy.

Each family raised a grand, Trust Greenbelt matched this, and Umthombo got an artist in residence.

Mxolisi sent me his updated blog today - and what a star he is. 

I spent a week with Mxolisi in October 08. I love being in the company of artists. They are good for my soul. Their values are often different from many people I meet, they are prepared to take risks, they have time to engage people, they take life lightly and they are usually near things of beauty. Artists also can’t be controlled by anyone, they are free spirits, often with a great sense of humour and are great company. I can also identify with artists because they are usually nearly always broke too.

Mxolisi is no exception – though I don’t know about his financial circumstances. Have a read of his blog.  You soon get the idea of his dedication and impact in Durban. 

My favourite pictures are these two: 

bees1Picture by: Siye

‘Street children are like bees because we all aim for one goal: to have a better and sweet life. We are normal children like any other human being but people are scared of us. This is because some of us do bite when they are irritated, but it doesn’t mean we’re bad. Like bees we always stick together no matter how bad the situation is’.

 

 boxer
Picture by: Zakhele

Zakhele says ”[the aids/HIV virus] is like a boxer because it can defeat anything coming it way.”

 

The whole point of the arts programme of the 2010 Street Child World Cup is to give a voice to street children. Even in these simple pictures, you hear that voice loud and clear. 

Mxolisi and Umthombo, together with us at Momentum Arts are delighted to be working together to develop and deliver the cultural side of the 2010 Street Child World Cup. 

John

Published on: 7. 11. 2008 | Read more »

the ball is rolling

Aside from developing an unfortunate tendency to lapse into bad football metaphors, I don’t think working on this project has harmed me too much so far.

In my first month working to get the ball rolling, I:

  • flew to South Africa (very much a trip of two halves – first week being a crazy whirl of meetings and talking, second being all about clarity, focus, and actually getting a vision of how this whole thing is going to work),
  • schmoozed with various PRs, footballers and NGOs at a House of Lords event,
  • came back from a training day with a clear profit earned from the trainer who loved the project,
  • got to know the London tube network better than ever before (and to be honest, rather more than I would like)
  • broke my computer
  • bumped into Alistair Campbell and Boris Johnson at the House of Commons

Oh – and tomorrow night, Chris (from whom more later) gets to go and hang out in Heathrow terminal 5 to meet Mark Ramprakash. 

All in a good cause, though.  Everyone who hears about the project loves it, so each meeting has yielded contacts, potential funding, ideas – more players on the team.

Jenny

Published on: 6. 11. 2008 | Read more »

Photos

4350196394_7cd39752c3 managua-football-22 4349414113_feb92edd3a

Please support us

Endorsements

  • "I know from personal experience just what power football can have to inspire and change young people’s lives whatever their background or nationality. This is what the Deloitte Street Child World Cup is all about and I give it my full support."
    David Beckham, AC Milan and England Midfielder
  • "No child should have to live on the streets. I commend the Street Child World Cup for providing a platform for the rights of street children to be heard."
    Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister
  • "The Deloitte Street Child World Cup demonstrates the tremendous potential of every single child, and especially street children, who are so often treated as less than human. I am proud that the first ever Street Child World Cup will take place in South Africa – and I urge all governments to guarantee the rights of this most marginalised group of their citizens to lives in which their promise is fulfilled.Quot;
    Archbishop Desmond Tutu
  • "When ever people come across me they laugh. It seems like my mouth is zipped because they talk for us. I wish they could give us a chance to talk for ourselves."
    Mbali, 15, Durban
  • "When people see us by the streets, they say that we are the street boys. But when they see us playing soccer, they say that we are not the street boys. They say that we are people like them. They are people like us."
    Andile, 15, Durban
  • "I experienced hardcore street life in my youth. I know what it’s like. I congratulate the Deloitte Street Child World Cup project in it’s commitment to bring attention to the plight of Street Children through the power of football."
    Manny Pacquiao, Filipino professional boxer, current WBO World welterweight champion
  • "The Street Child World Cup hosted by Umthombo is a wonderful opportunity to hear the forgotten voices of Street Children – often marginalised, this is their time to be heard and to shine on the world stage. From the football field to governments across the world, this is a chance to celebrate the talent that every child has."
    Thandie Newton, star of Crash and 2012
  • "The Deloitte Street Child World Cup will use this game, which is loved all over the world, to help give kids a fairer deal. No child should have to be on the street."
    Gary Lineker OBE, former Tottenham, Barcelona, and England Forward and BBC’s Match of the Day presenter
  • "I am delighted that the first Street Child World Cup will take place in South Africa where I know there is a huge passion for football. No child should have to live on the streets and and I fully endorse this campaign giving street children a voice to claim their rights."
    Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United Manager
  • "Football and footballers aren’t always in the headlines for the right reasons but the Deloitte Street Child World Cup harnesses the power of grassroots football to change vulnerable young peoples’ lives for the better across the world through the talent that they have. Good luck to all those taking part."
    David Seaman, Former Arsenal and England Goalkeeper
  • "I’m delighted to endorse the Deloitte Street Child World Cup. This is a fantastic ground-breaking event, aiming to win rights for street children, not only in Durban but across South Africa – and even the world! I’m sure that every team will be a winner!"
    Sir Cliff Richard
  • "I’ve played football as a teenager with the world watching me. The Deloitte Street Child World Cup is a brilliant project which will help hundreds of thousands of teenagers who have been forced to live on the streets by getting the world to listen to them and give them a fair chance."
    Theo Walcott, Arsenal and England Forward
  • "No child should have to be on the streets. I am proud to support the Ukrainian team at the Street Child World Cup. Street children need the chance to show the world their potential."
    Andriy Shevchenko, Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine Captain
  • "It was a privilege to be invited to the launch of the Street Child World Cup at Downing Street. It gives children a voice through football, a platform to express their rights and celebrate their abilities – I’m proud to add my support."
    Wilson Palacios, Tottenham and Honduras Midfielder
  • "Seeing young people enjoying the magic of football is what the game is all about and I feel honoured to be supporting the event for street children taking place in South Africa. The Deloitte Street Child World Cup is a fantastic grassroots initiative giving a voice to street children through the positive power of football. It’s an example of football making headlines for the right reasons. Good luck to all those taking part!"
    Eduardo, Arsenal and Croatia Forward
  • "I am proud that the first ever Deloitte Street Child World Cup will be held in my country in 2010. Football has the power to unite people from all over the world and gives young people the discipline and focus to let their true talent shine. No child should have to sleep on the street. I am delighted that the Deloitte Street Child World Cup will celebrate these children’s potential and call for their rights to be realised.Good luck to all the teams but especially the South African team Umthombo from Durban!"
    Aaron Mokoena, Portsmouth Midfielder and South Africa’s Captain and most capped player
  • "The Football Association commends initiatives such as the Deloitte Street Child World Championships which use the power of football to make a difference to people’s lives"
    Lord David Triesman, F.A. Chairman
  • "The Street Child World Cup is a superb campaign, bringing to attention the issues faced by some of the most vulnerable children in the world"
    Edith Bowman, BBC Radio 1
  • "My career is testament to the global village that football has become. The Deloitte Street Child World Cup is a groundbreaking campaign highlighting the essential rights that all children must be given. From Montevideo via Brighton and down to Durban – let’s spread the word!"
    Gus Poyet, former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Brighton and Hove Albion Manager
  • "South Africa 2012 will be watched by most of the World. The Deloitte Street Child World Cup is the ultimate opportunity for us all to invest in the grassroots of football. Great campaign."
    Sam Allardyce, Blackburn Rovers Manager
  • "The power of football in the community is undeniable and football is now a global community. I support the Deloitte Street Child World Cup in raising awareness and support through football for the most vulnerable in our community: street children"
    Owen Coyle, Bolton Wanderers Manager
  • "Throughout my career I have been an advocate of community development through football and the Deloitte Street Child World Cup is an excellent example of uniting through football in support of young people across the World."
    Alan Curbishley, Former Charlton and West Ham Manager

    Follow us on: twitter, facebook