Street Child World Cup

The Street Child World Cup is a global movement for street children to receive the protection and opportunities that all children are entitled to. Ahead of each FIFA World Cup, they unite street children from across five continents to play football and unite in a unique international conference. Together through football, art and campaigning their aim is to challenge the negative perceptions and treatment of street children around the world.

The first Street Child World Cup was held in Durban, South Africa, in March 2010 The event brought together teams of street children and former street children from Brazil, South Africa, Nicaragua, Ukraine, India, the Philippines and Tanzania. The participants were between 14 and 16 years old at the time of the event and all had experience of living full-time on the streets without family. Each squad of 9 players included 3 girls. A representative team of young people from Manchester, UK, also took part in the tournament. This team was mentored by UK children's TV presenter Andy Akinwolere, and his journey was covered on the BBC Children's TV show, Blue Peter.

The Street Child World Cup was initiated by UK human rights charity the Amos Trust. It was hosted in Durban by Umthombo Street Children and the Durban University of Technology.

Each team was brought by a street child organisation based in the contributing country: Action for Brazil's Children; Casa Alianza Nicaragua; Depaul Kharkiv (Ukraine); Youth Football Club Rurka Kalan and the Khalsa Football Academy (India); Caretakers of the Environment Tanzania, through Tanzania Street Children Sports Academy (TSC Sports Academy) A network of charities worked together to bring a team from the Philippines. The UK team was brought by the M13 Youth Project.

Between 12 and 22 March 2010, the participating children competed in a 7-a-side football tournament, created artworks which were subsequently exhibited in the Durban Art Gallery and at the Foundling Museum, London, and took part in a youth participation conference. The outcomes of the conference were published in November 2010 as 'The Durban Declaration'. This emphasises street children's right to be heard, right to a home, right to protection from violence, and right to access health and education. Girls participating in the Street Child World Cup produced a Street Girl's Manifesto which was published as part of Plan International's 2010 'Because I am a Girl' report on the state of the world's girls.

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