Ukraine
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Team Ukraine will be brought to the Street Child World Cup by Depaul International.
Anton was born in Kharkiv in 1997. He ran away from his home to live on the streets due to violence in the family home. He slept on a bench in a kiosk for a number of months, and this is when he started attending Depaulka, an outreach service providing meals and medical assistance to street children in Kharkiv in the evening time. He spoke with staff on the bus and he was informed of the day centre that Depaul Kharkiv ran on a daily basis. In the day centre there are a wide variety of activities, such as one to one session with professional staff, food, life skills education and art to mention but a few. We also have a football pitch attached to the centre, which is wonderful for the children in the summer months. It is wonderful to see these children who are having to live in less than humane places and exist in the harsh world of the streets, come to the centre and become children again kicking a ball, practicing their celebrations when the score a goal and the odd disagreement over was it a foul or not!
Anton attended the centre daily and then with the support from Depaul he moved to a childrens hostel run by the local authority. Anton found it difficult to settle in the hostel as his freedom was taken away from him. He could no longer go for a walk or play football if he wished as the systematic regulations in the hostel don’t allow this. Anton ran away and went back to living on the streets. Depaul persevered with him and he once again moved to a hostel and is currently living there. It is a different hostel to the previous one and the children have a little more freedom. They cannot leave if they wish but the staff there engage in many outdoor activities with the young people including football, basketball and walks. When he moved there he asked Depaul staff to visit him on a regular basis, which we do twice weekly.
In recent weeks when staff went to visit Anton they noted he is finally living like an average 11 year old boy. He is participating in sports and his love for football is evident. When given a choice as to what he likes most about the hostel, without a doubt his answer is “Football”!!
Street Children in Kharkiv:
Statistics say there are 250,000 people living on the streets in Ukraine but in many cases these people may not be permanently living on the street.
Depaul Kharkiv deals with young people, who are experiencing difficulties, are living on the street, have lived on the street or are at risk of becoming homeless. Many of the young people we help in Kharkiv are from one parent families, alcoholism is a big problem and this coincides with violence in the family. Addiction to harmful substances such as glue is a problem, especially in the winter as the children live in poor conditions in underground caverns and the glue acts as an escape from the ferocious temperatures.
In Ukraine there are many big institutions in which children from disadvantaged backgrounds live. The smaller hostels have approximately 80 beds and the larger ones have up to 300 beds. Many children are taken from the street by the police and placed in these establishments without any explanations to parents / carers. The units are very stringent; each child is treated as a number, not as an individual and they have no freedom or choice. For his reason the children run and end up back on the streets. There is a vicious circle as the police once again find the children and place them back in the accommodation. Depaul recognised this problem and has begun working in these institutions carrying out various activities with the children and giving them choices of what they like. In winter months as temperatures can drop to -20, outdoor sports are difficult to organise but in summer months there are many children participating in a variety of sports.
Economically there are issues arising in Ukraine and I predict the numbers in these institutions are due to rise. This will result in overcrowding, conflicts and the more defenceless children will be pushed further into the background. I would like to see these children prosper in the future and the opportunity for them to participate in the Street Child World Cup will be a life changing experience for them.
Vitaliy Novak,
Director Depaul Kharkiv
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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