Archive for July, 2009

Umthombo Young Stars get international soccer tips

Playing for your country. It’s an honour players dream of.  Only a few get to experience it. When they do, they can find themselves heroes to millions.

50 young players around the world are now finding that they’re going to be representing their countries in the first ever Street Child World Cup.  These young people - who’ve experienced the toughest starts in life, on the streets – have enormous potential – and not just on the football field.  That’s what we want to celebrate in March 2010.

So, we’re really pleased that international players, who know what it’s like to represent their countries on the pitch, are coming alongside these extraordinary young people.

The latest is Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, capped 58 times for Japan (slightly ahead, so far, of  one of our other supporters, Theo Walcott (with 8 caps (though, at only 20 years old, let’s give him a chance) - but slightly behind another Street Child World Cup fan, Gary Lineker (with 80 England caps))

Tsuyoshi stopped by Umthombo Street Children, South African hosts of the Street Child World Cup recently, adding his tips to a coaching session.  Will this be the first in an ongoing series of pro-player-supported coaching sessions for our Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Ukrainian, Philipino, Indian, Tanzanian and UK teams?  Maybe so.  It’s all going to contribute towards a hugely competitive and massively enjoyable atmosphere when the teams come together.

Football fans – watch this space.

Published on: 29. 07. 2009 | Read more »

"… it was much harder to think about what they have"

Solidarity.  Between children – all trying to negotiate that tricky path to grown-up-hood. Often having to deal with adults who don’t listen. 

I’m heartened by this fabulous group of children in Henley (you’ve heard about wonderful Henley before) who, learning about children who are having to do their growing up on the streets, got stuck in to some serious carwashing to raise some money – in solidarity.  One of them said in a postcard to me “we have been learning about what we have and what street children have.  It was much harder to think about what they have”.  These Henley children know that growing up can sometimes be hard enough – so they wanted to come alongside their peers around the world to help give them a voice which will be heard by adults – who don’t always listen.

Big fat cheers and thank yous to this mighty carwashing crew.

Also big thanks to the children who took part in a football fun day at Henley Primary School and raised a further generous, wonderful, enabling sum of money.  You guys…. 

Those of us grown-ups who sometimes sit on our hands a bit when it comes to getting stuck in have probably got a few things to learn here.  From these children.  From street children who, in solidarity, will support children newly arrived on the street – will look out for each other.  Thanks for the reminder.

Published on: 24. 07. 2009 | Read more »

National fame beckons you…

Just had a call from a TV researcher looking for people who might want to clear out their closets AND raise some money for the Street Child World Cup too!

Heard of Trash for Cash?  A team of experts come to your house, help you go through your clutter, identify what’s sell-able, recyclable, and what you should keep – you get half the money, and you donate the other half to the exciting, innovative, creative charity of your choice (that’s us, in case you were in any doubt).  Rosalyn at Reef TV is the person to call 020 7539 2000. 

They’re filming throughout the summer months, so get in touch straight away if you’re interested.

Published on: 23. 07. 2009 | Read more »

Is it possible to have a blog without mentioning Barack Obama?

Clearly not.

Now, I bow to no-one in my slightly obsessive, possibly naive idolisation of the 44th US President but if, in some honeysuckled moment, I were to have his ear, I would have to have a word about the Rights of the Child.

To be fair, the US, under his administration, is closer to ratifying the 20 year old Convention on the Rights of the Child than it ever has been.  In his election campaign, Obama said that it was embarrassing that the US was in the company only of Somalia in its absence from the ratification list and there are signs that they are now working out the ‘how’ of it.

Throwing my own tuppenorth in with him, I would say to Obama that this is something to shout about, not to conceal in dry backroom debate.  If the USA ratified the Convention, and its children threw a party  to celebrate, this could trigger a new era in its implementation.

We need it.

Because, the truth is, although 193 countries have signed up to these crucial rights for their children, the 100 million or more street children around the world are living, struggling, surviving proof that the Convention isn’t worth the paper it’s written on unless governments make an effort to implement it. 

That means intervening before children end up on the streets – with support structures and effective packages.  It means listening to street children – who are by far the best social services referral network for their fellow children, frequently directing children newly arrived on the streets to NGOs so that they don’t get stuck in street life.  It means going to children traumatised by street life and committing – long term – to support them as they work through their traumas and build a positive future with the networking and survival skills they’ve learned the hard way.

But they (governments) need a reason to put that effort in.

That’s why I want to see the UN Rights of the Child talked about more loudly, more positively,more creatively, and more insistently, by children, by adults, by politicians, policy-makers and NGOs.  It’s got to be more than a dusty document that governments sign up to in a kind of governmental equivalent of sticking a Friends of the Earth sticker in the back of your gas-guzzling 4×4. It’s got to mean something.

There are a whole number of things which could work together to make that a reality.  The Convention getting a proper complaints mechanism (see CRIN’s campaign), for a start. The US signing up and giving a fresh boost.  That could help.

And some good, low tech, anyone-can-do-it bigging up of the Rights of the Child. It’s something the Street Child World Cup wants to do.  Nudging political will in the right direction. Giving governments a reason – however small – to make an effort. A bunch of ordinary people who’ll applaud them when they do.  And who’ll make a noise if they don’t.

Can we? 

Published on: 20. 07. 2009 | Read more »

Football heroes

Some might count Gary Lineker or Theo Walcott among their football heroes.  George Best or Bobby Moore get a look in sometimes.  Pele, if we look beyond these shores.  Speaking of Pele, in my view, most members of the cast of Escape to Victory have got a good claim on the heroic footballer title.

However, I’ve got a new list of footballing heroes.

Paul, Valerie, Kate, David, Joel, Jan, Wes, Phoebe, Harriet, Alice, Tim, Ben, Matt, Karen.  Take your place with the greats.

This fabulous group – not all of whom would claim to be Pele’s equal on the pitch – are looking to come out to Durban from the UK in March next year to spend 2-3 weeks volunteering to make the Street Child World Cup happen.  It’s a step into the unknown.  It involves far more than just some days in South Africa – there’s fundraising and preparation to be done here too.  So they’re a committed bunch. 

I met half a dozen of them on Saturday to talk through the programme and no-one ran away as I repeated that – if we’re honest – no-one’s entirely sure exactly what’s going to happen in Durban next year.  In fact, some of them seemed positively excited to be involved in something organic, innovative and ground-breaking.  They’re a bunch of seriously nice people and I came away from Saturday’s meet (as from another similar one back in April) heart-warmed and enthused. 

Thank you, footballing heroes. With all due abject apologies for using the phrase - I’m glad you’re on the team.

jenny

Published on: 13. 07. 2009 | Read more »