Spirrsblog.com Aug 10, 2009
“73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.”
Just several days after landing in Hong Kong I was able to catch a glimpse of a very special annual fund raising tournament held in the heart of Hong Kong. Located at the famous McPherson Playground in Mong Kok where intense small-sided concrete soccer matches have been brewing for generations, the competition and start studded celebrity matches were played throughout the afternoon heat for one a common cause.
The Kick-Off Poverty Campaign is a “4-a-side soccer fund raising tournament to support the HK Contingent to join the Milan 2009 HWC and other related training programmes. For it’s charity game, it attracts quite a number of Teams from the social service sector and the business community to donate HK$15,000 for a team to participate. Players also gain public support through the street soccer events. Players’ social image, self-competence and self-esteem are then rebuilt and enhanced.”
The Homeless World Cup (HWC) is an event of the International Network of Street Papers. It creates chances for people in crisis situations through social programmes and by selling their own newspaper directly on the streets. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, use of football as a trigger to inspire and energize people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It is a 4-a-side street soccer event, which is fast and entertaining. The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 18 national teams. 6 years on 56 nations were united for Melbourne 2008, which included the first Women’s Cup.
The impact is consistently significant year on year with 73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.The Game is now on the road to Milan 2009 on 6-13 September.
To find out more about the Homeless World Cup 2009 in Milan visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org
Click Kick-Off Poverty for more on Hong Kong’s HWC Team Campaign.
Shoot a Comment