I'm off to Africa again!! This time though I'm not heading to the mountains but to the seaside instead!

In March 2010 I am going to Durban, South Africa, with other volunteers to assist in the running of the Street Child World Cup (http://streetchildworldcup.org/). The reasons for the Street Child World Cup? Hopefully the information below will explain that, so please donate generously. I am covering the cost of my airfare, accommodation etc so all money raised by yourselves will go directly towards covering the costs of getting the children to the competition, accommodating them, providing them with advocacy training etc.

Millions of children have to survive on the streets of our world today. Children as young as five have to go without family support or government assistance, and are often seen as

The Street Child World Cup will be more than a football tournament. It will celebrate street children’s potential and allow their stories to be heard.

100,000,000 children around the world, some as young as five, are forced into dangerous and unhealthy lives on the street. On the streets, children’s rights are routinely violated – often with complete impunity - sometimes by state representatives including the police and they are often seen as worthless nuisances, who deserve the violence and abuse they get.

International, national and local policy makers invited to attend the event will be challenged to address the injustices that the stories of street children raise. The Street Child World Cup will launch a global campaign to win rights for street children. That means governments taking action when those rights are violated and investing in projects targeted at street children, in order to provide alternatives which are healthy, dignified and safe.

Participating street children will receive high quality training in football coaching, as well as advocacy and child rights, to support them to build futures as peer mentors in their own countries.

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