Steve smashed the fundraising target and raised an impressive £3563 showing his support for the Street Child World Cup in Brazil 2014. For those of you like us who didn’t know, the South Downs Way is one of Britain’s 18 National Trails running along the South Downs and the old Pilgrim route from Eastbourne in East Sussex, through West Sussex to Winchester in Hampshire.

Not only being a long way the cumulative climb along the route was over 6,000 metres; which means as well as walking 100 miles it also involved effectively doing the 3 Peaks Challenge– Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis. To make it even more tricky Steve and a friend were walking into the prevailing wind with muddy conditions underfoot.

Congratulations Steve!!

It’s not too late to support Steve for this terrific effort: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephenBrannShirt10

Top celebrities, including The Wanted, trod the red carpet for The iExplore Ball in support of Street Child World Cup. The black tie event aimed to raise much needed awareness and funds for Brazil 2014.

The iExplore Ball, was held at London’s Indig02, the evening included world class entertainment, auction prizes and a celebrity guest list featuring radio DJs, pop stars, TV personalities and actors from Greg Burns and Beverley Knight to Olympians Dalton Grant, Campbell Walsh and Guin Batten.

More than 700 guests were treated to performances from The Wanted, 80s legends Go West and Britain’s Got Talent finalists Escala. The fundraising event was held by iExplore – an award-winning website providing UK travellers with a one-stop shop of inspirational active holiday ideas. iExplore are the new global partner of the Street Child World Cup. iExplore is part of TUI Travel PLC’s Specialist & Activity Sector.

Darren Mee, Chief Operating Officer TUI Travel PLC’s Specialist & Activity Sector, said: “The Street Child World Cup’s objectives really opened our eyes to the issues that children living on the street face each day.  The distressing fact is that there are millions of children around the world in this situation that are frequently exposed to sexual and violent abuse, exploitation and trafficking, with little support from authorities.

“Their campaign has captured our hearts and we hope that The iExplore Ball will help capture the thoughts of others too and raise some essential funds to sustain such a worthwhile charity.”

The iExplore Ball included the chance to bid on top auction prizes such as two seats on a private jet holiday, a trip for two on an Arctic adventure cruise, a package to watch the rugby at the Lions Tour in Australia as well as the chance to become a Champions League match mascot and get hold of various signed sporting memorabilia.

Friday evening the young people from ABC Trust/Quixote were re-united with the UK team (M13) from South Africa 2010 with whom many of them had kept in touch via Facebook. This proved a particular highlight for the young people playing football and taking on an assault course.

Saturday they were given a tour of Camden Market alongside students from South Camden Community School.

This was followed by a taster of home at St Luke’s Islington where they received Brazilian-themed food, made presentations and showed the Brits how dancing is really done.

Team member Rodrigo José Inácio said: “The Street Child World Cup has taught me a lot about other cultures. Especially when we were in South Africa and we met with Umthombo. I hope others can understand and respect our culture in Brazil also.”

Vicente Silva dos Santos added: “Everyone is unique, if you respect their culture then you will find every individual is valuable.”

Looking forward to Brazil 2014 Rodrigo said: “I really want to see all the street children from Brazil to take part and learn like we learned and to have the opportunity to change like I have changed”

Vicente said: “I really want to see the Street Child World Cup being a success so that there will be no more children on the streets of Brazil.”

All those in attendance were asked to a light a candle to remember the millions of children still living and working on the streets across the world.

The next day the Brazil team took part in the Cambridge-based ‘Suits and Boots’ tournament for businesses in Cambridge. The young people warmed up the brisk-fen conditions with their Brazilian skills. Most notably Josilene (Leni) dos Santos who scored a wonderfully memorable penalty.

Thamires and Leni keeping warm

Douglas raises the cup

“The city of Mwanza is expanding rapidly and is one of the fastest growing cities in Tanzania. However, this is also resulting in noticeably more street children both living on the street and coming to Kuleana Street Childrens Centre for support. Unfortunately, a lack of support for the centre has put it in a difficult situation and has left the centre unable to support the children in the way they need, yet morally the centre cannot tell the children to simply go back to the streets…Furthermore, there has also been an unprecedented number of street girls in Mwanza who are pregnant at the moment and that have nowhere to go or any real support. Many of these pregnancies are not planned and have resulted from both sexual abuse or life as a prostitute.

Unfortunately, this situation is made increasingly difficult by the lack of government efforts to see numbers of street children decrease. The government’s slow response to these growing numbers and lack of funding has made it difficult to support the street children to make a new life without relying on the street.

We hope the International Day for Street Children will raise awareness of the street children in Mwanza and elsewhere and help make a change for a better and brighter future.”

Our joint venture partner Action for Brazil’s Children (ABC) Trust has facilitated the visit of the young Brazilians who come from the Quixote project in Sao Paulo. Their week-long trip coincides with the International Day for Street Children and comprises a number of awareness raising activities. See below for details on where you can join us to meet the young people and to hear their stories.

Street Child World Cup Chief Executive Andrew Webb said:
“We welcome the young Brazilians who remind us that this is more than a game and that no child should have to live on the streets. Through football, art and a truly unique international event, the Street Child World Cup aims to challenge negative perceptions and treatment of street children around the world by ensuring that the voices of street children are heard.”

Whilst in the UK young people will visit the Houses of Parliament, be guests at Arsenal and QPR Premiership Football games and a Tottenham Hotspur training session. They will also meet the Bishop of London and visit the Brazilian Embassy.

A key part of the trip will be meeting other young people with whom they can share their stories and help raise awareness of the millions of children still living on the streets. They will be joining South Camden Community School for a number of activities including a community welcome day at St Luke’s West Holloway. They will also of course be playing football including being the guest team at a Cambridge-based annual football tournament.

The trip is being co-ordinated by Street Child World Cup joint venture partners Momentum Arts, Amos Trust and Action for Brazil’s Children Trust. For information on our Global Partner iExplore please visit http://www.iexplore.co.uk/

Join us on the Road to Brazil…

Do join us to welcome our Brazilian team of former street children as we celebrate the launch of the Street Child World Cup Brazil 2014. Hear the latest news from the Street Child World Cup, eat Brazilian-themed food and celebrate with us!

Friday 13th April 2012
6-8pm Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre (Jack Petchey Lodge)
Map
RSVP : judy@parentingpeople.co.uk

Saturday 14th April 2012
6-8pm St Luke’s Church, Holloway
Map
RSVP: nancy@momentumarts.org.uk

Places are limited and we need to know numbers in order to plan food so do please let us know as soon as possible.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES/MATERIALS
For further information, to cover any of the activities or to arrange an interview with member/s of the Brazilian team or the organisation, please contact
Joe Hewitt
Email: joe@streetchildworldcup.org
Mob: 07767 612 696

Friday 23rd March 50 of the Street Child World Cup supporters club slept rough to raise funds and awareness for street children across the world.

The evenings Brazilian-themed entertainment included a Samba band, capoeira demonstrations, films and of course football! The event is held in association with our joint venture partner Action for Brazil’s Children Trust.

This is more than a game, no child should live on the streets.

For more information or to register email: katie@streetchildworldcup.org

According to the Washington Post:

“Conan, a 17-year-old who was abandoned by his parents when he was 7, told Beckham that he dreams of joining the Philippine team and later becoming a coach. He played in the Street Children’s Football World Cup last year in South Africa, where the Philippines beat South Africa 2-1.”

Street Kids United is a documentary feature about a team of homeless children, chosen to represent South Africa in the first ever Street Child World Cup. These children from the host Umthombo project see football as a way to a better and brighter future.

Andile, from the Umthombo organisation said:

“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 people like them. They are people like us”.

The film reflects the power of football to give those most marginalised and vulnerable children a voice to tell their stories and to share their hopes and dreams for a better life.

According to John Wroe, a founder of Street Child World Cup: “So many films are about celebrities; this was about people without power. There is no Hollywood twist in Street Kids United. All the kids at Umthombo are full of life and have stories which should be heard”.

The screening will be followed by an introduction and Q&A session with award-winning filmmaker and Street Kids United Director Tim Pritchard and Vuyani “Biza” Madolo from Umthombo Street Children. The film which premiered at the Berlin Film festival has received wide spread acclaim.

“No game lays claim to being a ‘world game’ more than football.” says F&ME ‘s Mike Downey, “It is truly a globalised phenomenon from the glitter and riches of the European leagues to the dreams of children growing up in third world poverty. Football’s appeal extends across nations, cultures, religion and class. We hope this film will do the same. And in doing so, give a voice to street children all over the world. ”

Director: Tim Pritchard

Producers: Sandy Markwick, Mike Downey, Sam Taylor

Production Companies: Film and Music Entertainment, Ten10, Elfin Production

-       Editors notes –

Street Child World Cup

The UN estimates that there are 100 million children worldwide living and working on the streets. Each child has a story, each child has a goal and each child deserves a home away from abuse. Across five continents, through the power of football the Street Child World Cup unites their voices, shares their stories and demands their rights. No longer will these children be seen and not heard.

In 2014 the beautiful game returns to its spiritual home: Brazil. This time street children from up to 20 countries will be united. The teams will be drawn from a network of outstanding street child projects from around the world.

The participating children will be aged 14 to 16 and will all have lived on the streets. Boys and girls will take part in separate football tournaments. The event will involve teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America.

Street Child World Cup is a joint venture of the following not for profit organisations: The ABC Trust, The Amos Trust & Momentum Arts

www.streetchildworldcup.org

FAME

Film and Music Entertainment is one of the UK’s most successful and prolific independent production companies. It was formed by Mike Downey and Sam Taylor in January 2000 with the aim of financing and producing feature films. Stephen Daldry (three-time Oscar-nominated, director of Billy Elliott, The Hours and The Reader) acts as Chairman of the Board and as executive producer.
With over 30 films under it’s belt, including a winner of the Golden Lion in Venice, an Academy Award Nominee and multiple official entries in the Sundance, Berlin, Montreal, Toronto, San Sebastian and Locarno film festivals, the Film and Music Entertainment brand has over the last decade become synonymous with the production of quality feature films.

http://www.fame.uk.com

Umthombo

Umthombo empowers street children and aims to change the realities that they  face and make an impact on policy. It began as an outreach and aftercare organisation and has since grown to accommodate many of the children, giving them counselling and support. Umthombo’s Durban model is pioneering the idea of providing alternatives to street life through engagement and therapeutic interventions and focuses on addressing the traumas associated with the children’s experiences. Umthombo’s team is a fusion of social working professionals and trained former street children who have a unique understanding of the realities of the street child experience

www.umthombo.org