“On the International Day for Street Children on 12 April, SAFIRE officially announced its participation in the Street Child World Cup. A press conference was held in SAFIRE’s head office in Moka. Thanks to the partnership established with the communication company Blast, the announcement of our participation to SCWC had huge media coverage in Mauritius. This press conference also kicked off the communication campaign the Road to Rio. We hope that SAFIRE’s participation in the SCWC and the campaign around this project will help us to have the phenomenon of street children recognized by the authorities, and encourage them to adopt policies to protect street connected children. 

Away from the 5-star resorts, a typical street in the north of the island

SAFIRE also took this opportunity to talk more about street children in Mauritius. On the island there are currently around 7000 children in street situations, aged between 6 and 18. A1most 50% of them are completely out of school while 30% are using drugs.

For the director of SAFIRE, Ismahan Ferhat, “it is a paradox for Mauritius to be represented on the international scene, and during a football tournament of this magnitude and with a global media coverage, by a marginalized and excluded population.”

Below are a few examples of the press coverage of the announcement (in French). More examples are listed on Team Mauritius’ Media page.

http://www.lemauricien.com/article/street-child-world-cup-quand-sport-vient-en-aide-aux-enfants-des-rues

http://www.defimedia.info/defi-plus/dp-magazine/item/30504-street-child-world-cup-les-enfants-de-safire-a-rio.html 

SAFIRE and Blast communication agency have also developed a communication campaign around Mauritius’ participation in the SCWC (see the picture below – public buses across the island are emblazoned with colourful Road to Rio banners).  The objectives of this campaign are to announce Mauritius taking part in the SCWC and to also encourage everyone, including funders, to join them on the Road to Rio. Thanks to this communication campaign, SAFIRE has established a partnership with Air France, who accepted to pay for half of all the plane tickets from Mauritius to Rio. So far, Air France is the first financial partner for the Mauritian team.

A snap of one of the buses spreading the message that Team Mauritius are taking part in the Street Child World Cup

Finally – a fundraising night: On the 20th April, SAFIRE also organized the first fundraising event for the SCWC. Around two hundred people attended this fundraising evening, which consisted of a finger food cocktail with a fashion and equestrian show. Local artists (fashion designer, model agency, hair dresser, and a florist) agreed to volunteer and help SAFIRE to organize this event.”

“The Street Child World Cup was officially launched for Team Burundi just over a week ago, and we were delighted to be able to include guests from across the world, as well as national media and local dignitaries.

However, whilst we were very pleased to have such support from such a wide array of people and businesses, we wanted to make the day about the children; not just those 8 children who will be boarding a plane to Brazil (all getting onto a plane for the very first time!), but for all the children we work with, irrespective of what interest they have in football, and how good they are.

The day began with a football match between the New Generation boys with whom we work with very closely on a day-to-day basis, and another team of boys from the streets of Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital. After an empty passing Matatu (minibus/taxi) was hailed and took us to a local pitch (a lack of transport being a key issue for us at New Generation), the teams were able to begin warming up, not before a new set of kit, courtesy of one of supporters running the London Marathon, was given to the team, making them understandably very happy!

The game was watched keenly from the side-lines by SCWC founder, Chris Rose, as well as Nick Turner, a trustee of Street Action, one of our own partners and a key supporter of the work at New Generation. Typically for a big event, the game ended nil-nil, but it was a great opportunity to speak to some of the boys, and capture some of their stories as we move further on our own Road to Rio.

After the game, the boys, supporters, friends of New Generation and the media all headed to the headquarters of New Generation, and we had a series of speeches from Chris, Nick, Dieudonne Nahimana (New Generation founder and President), as well as from Burundi’s Head of Mass Sport. In addition to these people, we were also delighted to hear from two brothers who form a key part of the New Generation football team, Vianney Ndihokubwayo and Pasteur Bigirimana, boys who lost both their parents in the Burundian Civil War over 10 years ago, and came to the street in search of
food.

After the ‘official’ proceedings came to an end, we were delighted to welcome some traditional Burundian drummers, who combine an amazing sense of rhythm with some very wild gymnast acrobatics. At the end of their show, Chris, Nick, Dieudonne and many of the boys took up the drumsticks and continued the low, pulsating rhythms, and the night ended with a few interviews with local newspapers and television.

The Road to Rio has now officially begun in Burundi, and this was further reiterated as on the next day, Dieudonne, Chris and Nick met with the 1st Vice President of Burundi, who was keen to add his backing, and government’s backing, to the campaign.”

The Campaign

The campaign grew partly out of the awareness that while policies exist on single issues such as child labour or child abuse, no policy covers the multiple and complex needs of street children. At the same time, street children are automatically excluded from all social programmes that require their school attendance or a fixed address, for example.

PN’s founder Bernardo Rosemeyer, says: “We are very well-equipped to work with street children but not every organisation is in the same position as us. A public policy on street children would help all the entities that work with these children and their families in Brazil.”

a child sleeps beneath the flag

After consultation with representatives from 600 groups and bodies in Brazil’s 26 states, the campaign has come up with 26 resolutions it wants the Ministry of Social Assistance to address. These include measures on education, shelters and family life, as well the regulation of the profession of social educator and the creation of a national databank. It is hoped that the proposals will be considered for inclusion into law by summer 2014.

The campaign, which has the backing of the national Secretariat of Human Rights, is mapping the situation of street children nationwide for the first time, and in August eight young people who have experienced life on the streets will travel to Brasilia to have their say on what any new laws should include.

Pequeno Nazareno, which is providing the boys’ team for the Street Child World Cup, hopes that the event will help to highlight the campaign to achieve far-reaching change in Brazil.

“Street Child World Cup is an opportunity to let the world know that there is a movement for change in Brazil; that there is now a campaign calling for a public policy to address the situation of street children,” says Bernardo Rosemeyer. “This is a chance to grab the world’s attention.”

Written by Jo Griffin.
Image courtesy of Kitty Doets.

“Joe, a born and bred Guildford boy, heard about Umthombo a number of years ago and felt God leading him to find out more about the project. Two years later, he finally managed to get out to Durban and spent a month working with Umthombo. Naturally when he heard that SCWC would be happening in 2010, he volunteered to go back to Durban to help at the event. Fran, a born and bred Durban girl, had also been involved with Umthombo before 2010, leading her to volunteer for the arts team of SCWC. On the first night that all the teams were together in the Star Seaside children’s home, there was a huge celebration and Fran was asked to play the piano for a game being played in the hall. Joe sidled over, face plastered with a brightly painted South African flag in support for his team – Durban, naturally! – and started chatting to Fran. And so began a fun friendship for the duration of SCWC, which naturally grew into a Facebook friendship on Joe’s departure. But, as with many Facebook friendships, no conversation was actually had for the next year!

In 2011 Fran was planning a trip to England to visit some friends and family, and Joe happened to drop her a line on Facebook. It was a year on from SCWC and really, he couldn’t get Fran out of his mind! She told him about the trip, and they planned to meet up. Joe and his brother took her and a friend out for a wonderful day at Durdle Door in Dorset, and a fantastic Jamie Cullum concert at Kew Gardens. They parted ways, still friends and nothing more…but then Joe planned another Durban trip a couple of months later to help out at Umthombo again. During this time, the friendship blossomed into romance. It just so happened that Fran had dreamed of studying an MA in the UK for years, and this now seemed to be the perfect timing to pursue it!

So, at the beginning of 2012, Fran moved from sunny SA to rainy England, and the two started to date. On 26 August 2012, Joe took Fran back to Durdle Door where he had taken her in 2011, and he asked her to marry him on the moonlit, cliff-lined beach accompanied by fireworks and champagne! She said yes, of course, and they began to plan their wedding in the place where it all began – fair KwaZulu Natal. The wedding was on 6 April 2013 in the garden of Fran’s family’s holiday home in Ramsgate, South Africa.”

By Frances Williams

“Although the Tanzanians are only entering a boys’ team in the Street Child World Cup 2014, the girls aren’t forgotten. On the course there are four ladies who are increasing their coaching skills. Two of them are teachers from local primary schools and two are players at TSC Academy. Nyangi is 19 and as well as playing for TSC Girls, she also coaches them and teaches at the Kuleana Centre. She has firsthand experience of working with the children and thinks that the StreetKickz programme will help her to improve her coaching sessions with the boys at the centre.

Currently, Kuleana is only set up to house boys but that looks set to change with the new StreetBorn programme. Implemented recently by the centre and bolstered by the hiring of three new social workers in January of this year, StreetBorn works with young mothers from the streets. They provide support and rehabilitation where possible but also physical support such as medicine for the babies. Clara, a recently employed social worker with a degree in community development said that some girls prefer to stay on the streets because they can earn lots of money through stealing, begging or prostitution but they still face difficult challenges, especially with a baby in tow so the programme has to reach out to them in their environment.

Although the girls can’t stay at the Kuleana Centre, plans are well underway to convert a residential home for volunteers and staff into a house for the girls. The aim is not to provide a long-term room but a short-term place where girls can come off the streets with their babies, get the crucial counselling and support needed for teenage mothers and then try to find a home of their own or with their families.

Near the house is the Saba Saba pitch, home ground for TSC and training ground for all the teams. On a Wednesday, the girls come to train. This Wednesday Nyangi was leading the session with some new drills learnt in the coaching training. She certainly put the other girls through their paces and TSC has a team to be reckoned with.

Another positive outcome for today was the talk by Clara to participants. George, the police officer from the community team, was especially engaged and asked lots of questions. After the session, he stopped Clara to exchange numbers and talked about how the police could collaborate with StreetBorn. This is another example of how football is the mechanism of bringing people together and so many good things come out of it.

At the end of the training at Saba Saba whilst the other girls played a match, we asked Nyangi what she would like to do in the future. She said she would like to get better at coaching and become the coach of the National Women’s Team of Tanzania. Big aspirations,  but you know what, having seen her in action, I think she might just do it.”

Barney’s Paris Marathon Story

“Paris to Rio? Well, not quite. But on April 7th I managed to scamper the 26.2 miles around Paris in just under three and a half hours. To be honest, I was just delighted to get around the course as, for a couple of months before the race, training had been prevented through a series of nasty niggles and a knee injury. Alas, nothing voltarol couldn’t keep a grip on!

It was an honour to run for the Street Child World Cup. I have seen how football provides an escape from the uncertainty which torments the every day of these kids, and the SCWC provides a platform for their voice to be heard. Ultimately, the SCWC hopes to see an end to the abuse and exploitation of street kids worldwide. I must say, it was this that kept me going during those lonely moments in the Bois de Boulogne as the race drew to a close! What a cause to support – thanks very much to all who donated.”

Barney (far left) having completed the Paris Marathon

Kevin’s London Marathon Story

“A few years ago Tom Hewitt (Founder of Umthombo, SCWC’s South African partner project) visited our church to talk about the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa. We have closely followed the work that has been done since, and in particular the positive role of the SCWC in giving street children a positive opportunity and highlighting the plight of street children across the world.

In March our church held a sleep out to support the work of SCWC. When I was offered a place to run in the 2013 London Marathon I was keen to use the opportunity to support this excellent charity and the project accompanying the Brazil World Cup. I love sport of all kinds especially football and running and I work with children and young people in north-west London. So running the marathon for SCWC brought together my various passions.

Last year I completed the London course in 3:14.26 and I was keen to improve on that time this year. The race itself was brought into perspective by the horrific events in Boston. The pre-race minute’s silence at the start line was poignant, and it was also inspiring to see such huge crowds turn out on a wonderfully sunny spring day for the event. The race went well for me up to the 35km point where a leg cramp spoiled my chances of a sub 3 hour time but despite a painful last few miles I was still delighted to finish in 3:05.30 to improve my PB by 9 minutes!

My sponsors from friends, family, Hillingdon Triathletes, Harrow AC and Holy Trinity Church, Northwood have been extremely generous and the money is still coming in! The running total is now at £596 and I hope this will help towards the work of SCWC in the run up to the World Cup next year.”

Kevin putting in maximum effort late on in the race!

Congratulations and thank you to both Barney and Kevin; between you you have raised an impressive £1,177 for SCWC! If you would like to sponsor Barney or Kevin there is still time: Barney’s Page – Kevin’s Page.

Joram arranged with some of the children he works with on the street to come and talk to us. The kids insisted that we met in a safe space away from other children on the street. Out here they have their own code of rules and regulations. It wasn’t safe for them to meet us in their normal working areas otherwise they might suffer retribution from other children here – they don’t like them talking to outsiders. These children choose to stay on the street because they can earn a bit of money and don’t have to adhere to the routine of the Children’s Centre. But it means they lack the emotional and physical support that organisations like Kuleana and Upendo can offer. This is why Joram comes to the street. So that these forgotten children can still have someone to talk to.

We met in a side street; Joram and four of the kids. After a five minute discussion they decided the place wasn’t good enough so they continued round the corner to somewhere more deserted. We followed after another five minutes and parked the car in the street with deserted market stalls all around.

Kanuti from Kuleana explained to he children what we wanted to ask them, and then we began. We asked about what it feels like to be on the street, what their dreams were, their aspirations. One child said that he wanted to be a scientist but had dropped out of school 4 years ago because he couldn’t pay the fees and then started living on the streets. He admitted that given the chance he would like to be rehabilitated with his family. He just didn’t know how. The story was the same for one of the others: he had dreams but he couldn’t figure out how to take the first step. Sadly, one of the children who looked about 7 but was probably 12 years old replied, “God knows”. He said he had lost all hope and whatever he might dream wouldn’t happen so he doesn’t dream.

At Kirumba stadium, training continued apace. We spoke with Dennis, who was at the previous SCWC in Durban. He is now 17 and hopes that the training will give him the opportunity to be a coach in the future. His message to the new team from Tanzania for 2014 was simply, “work hard.”  Dennis has worked hard since coming off the streets and he is now dreaming big.

With role models like Dennis, there is hope for children still living on the streets but we need to keep spreading the message so that people like Kanuti and Joram can do their job effectively and encourage more children to give up street life and pick up their dreams. The Street Child World Cup was set up to support children like the ones we saw tonight. Together, in collaboration, I hope we can do it.”

Laura

Read on for Laura’s third entry, about the importance of engaging the local police in Mwanza:

“One of the best parts of this training is seeing the local police taking part. In many countries police are seen as the enemy of street children and are responsible for roundups and beatings. Here in Mwanza, Joseph Mwami, from the child protection unit, works closely with the Kuleana Centre. Their main focus is community policy and the idea that the community must be involved in order to move forward.

Community is key to working with children from the streets or in difficult situations. Without the support network around a family that an engaged community provides, it is easier for that family to disintegrate and for children to leave home. The Kuleana Centre tries to rehabilitate children who arrive there in a number of ways: by reuniting them with their immediate family, by placing them with other family relatives or by working with the authorities to find a foster care place for them. Sometimes, after exhausting these options, it is just not possible to find somewhere so the children stay at the centre until they are old enough to work and have a place of their own.

Back at the pitch, Joseph was talking about what he had learnt already from the course. Every year the police run a community tournament but in the past it hasn’t engaged people in the way they would like to. Now, he says, he has some new ideas and tools to make the community tournament a big success and address some of the issues in Mwanza that ultimately will reduce crime.

For children from the streets, the efforts that the police here are making to understand their situation must help when they are found on the streets. Because of the reputation of the police, Joseph said that some kids even refer themselves to the police because they know they will get help. This, surely, is a sign that things are changing and that the community here is playing a big part.”

(QPR’s Gareth Dixon is also blogging during his trip. Make sure you have a look here)

Identity is a big issue for children who have been living on the streets. Often they arrive at the Kuleana Centre in Mwanza with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. A birth certificate, passport or national identity is a pipe dream; never had one, lost it along the way, no chance of proving who they are.

Today the QPR coaches, Martino and Gareth, started the session with the coaches by talking about identity. As an icebreaker the coaches were asked about their favourite football team, their coaching experience so far but also to share something about themselves that would interest others.

We then moved on to setting a code of conduct for coaches. Participants were asked to contribute their thoughts to the code for themselves this week and especially to think about how they create a safe space for children when they come to train. If the children are having a tough time then at least when they come to training they know that the coach will set a high standard of personal behaviour and create an environment where they can just play football for a few hours.

One of the key teachings on day one of the course is that the new coaches come from different starting points but are heading to the same destination. In the same way, the outdoor practical sessions focused not on the excellence of some players but how to develop a session that is inclusive for players of all abilities.

A distinguishing feature of this course is that it doesn’t just contain football. Each day gives time to a different group to speak to the participants about the difficult issues. For the coaches, today was an introduction to the issues facing children from the street. (Kutani) from the centre spoke about the Tanzania Children’s Act, which was only passed in 2009.

As the day progressed the trainees became more and more animated. The final session of the day asked what makes an effective coach. The twist was that the participants had to draw what they thought a great coach should be like. It was yet another expression of identity.

You may notice I used “children who have been living on the streets” not “street children”. This is because here in Mwanza, the kids don’t want to be defined by where they live, they want to be identified as children. This is them changing and stamping their identity, taking control back of their lives.

In the same way that the new coaches are starting from different stand points and finding out where they want to be, everyone joining the Street Child World Cup is coming from a different starting point but heading to the same destination.  We’re on the Road to Rio, are you coming with us?