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Archive for February, 2010

Notes from an Umthombo Artist

Hi! We are Abigail Donaldson and Frances Currie, two local Durbanites with a whole lotFebruary 013  of passion for the arts and for social change. We have gotten involved with the Street Child World Cup in creating a performance piece with the street children at Umthombo. The audience and the performers will go on a tour/parade through the city streets, stopping at a couple of locations in which the children will perform.

 

Wednesday 27/01/2010February 033

For the first workshop of the programme we decided to do a puppet workshop. The puppets gave the children the opportunity to voice their feelings and experiences in a low-focus setting. Each child had a different response to the activity. Some sang, some recited poems they had written previously, and others invented fantastical characters. We left feeling very encouraged, with the hope that the children’s enthusiasm and commitment would continue into the rest of our programme.

Wednesday 10/02/10

We explored the concept of ‘identity’ with the children today. We asked them to consider what it Umthombo2 009is that makes them the people they are, and the way in which the outside world sees them and how that makes them feel.

After the discussion, we asked them to create a short skit based on these ideas. In trying to create a context and situation for the piece, they suggested we look at the issue of the treatment of street children by the metro police. They took a few minutes to discuss their piece, after which they got up and improvised for 5-10 minutes.

February 046The improvisation was about a girl who was new on the streets. She came into contact with the three others – also playing street children. They welcomed her to the streets and gave her advice based on the dangers of the streets – the abuse of the metro police was the key danger highlighted here.

After the performance, Anita, one of the participating children, explained their concept. They wanted to directly represent themselves and the realities of the street experience. They wanted to communicate the fact that they are not animals but human beings.

Published on: 17. 02. 2010 | Read more »

Life on the edge

One of the more exciting, powerful and perhaps dangerous things that we’re doing in South Africa is the Promenade Theatre. This is theatre where you walk along, and at each stop, a small play is performed. The journey we want to explore is where the street children of Durban live. We’re working with two local South African artists, Fran and Abi, and we are, at this point, measuring out the route. Obviously safety is a concern for us, because this is a particularly dangerous neighbourhood. Participants will be escorted by Umthombo workers and also have lots of safeguards with regard to the heat and security.

IMG_1768The tree you see in the picture is the first stop on the promenade theatre. This is where many of the streetchildren live. If you look closely into the tree you might see some of their belongings. They put them up in the trees during the day to stop the police from confiscating them, and then at night they sleep under the tree. The idea is that each of the teams that come to visit us will take the tour, and see first hand where the children in Durban live. The rehearsals for that – the writing of the script and the workshops – are happening every Wednesday in January and February, and they will be ready for the first performance on the 14th of March. So good luck to Fran and Abi and the streetchildren in delivering what will be an exceptionally powerful piece of theatre.

Published on: 8. 02. 2010 | Read more »

Why is a bee like a street child?

 The bee is the central image for the Street Child World Cup. We asked the youngsters how they described themselves, and they said that they were like bees. They say ‘we all want a sweet life, we always stick together no matter what, and when we’re upset we sometimes have a sting in our tail’. This is significant for us because one of the legacies of the programme is to create a relationship with Umlazi to set up a ‘creactive centre’ – a centre for the arts that empowers the local community and develops community leaders using the creative arts. And the creation of the bees is one small step in developing and supporting the emerging creactive centre in Umlazi.

I wanted to thank Mxolisi for working and creating a whole range of bees for the exhibition, and also for making the print that’s on display in this photo. Mxo designed a lino cut and worked with print makers in Cambridge, and we produced this print for the launch of the arts programme of the Street Child World Cup. And Mxolisi had never seen it in its entirety, so we’re delighted to be able to present him with his very own copy. A fabulous print it is too. And we’re really grateful to all the artists in Umlazi who have been working on Sundays to make it all happen.

- John

Published on: 8. 02. 2010 | Read more »

Photos

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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

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