October 2018

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF STREETFOOTBALLWORLD

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT EA SPORTS: NEW PLAYER IN THE FIELD p. 18

ERIC THE THIRD HALF DISCOVER THE WORLD, CHANGE LIVES CANTONA: p. 20 “MY DREAM WAS TO BECOME FOOTBALL4GOOD & PHOTOGRAPHY A FOOTBALLER, BUT I KNEW AUSTIN GROUNDS, THAT I WOULD DO SOMETHING HOW A DUMP SITE BECAME A SAFE SPACE FOR CHILDREN ELSE AFTER THAT.” by Sebastian Gil Miranda p. 6 p. 60

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Contributors Andrew Wisniewski Alasdair McTernan IMPRINT Paris Sacorafos Joana Vilela As long as I can remember, football has played a This work is licensed under the Creative Somarey Tim leading role in my life. Commons Attribution-Non-commercial- Brayan Garay Castellanos Share Alike 4.0 International Licence. The football pitch was the first stage where I Art Editor performed. First, without an audience, as a young boy Attribution – you must attribute the work Anne Vogt in the streets of Marseille. Later as a professional at in the manner specified by the author Old Trafford. or licensor (but not in any way that Photo Credits suggests that they endorse you or your Cover: Joana Freitas/ Associação CAIS; p. 4 Elvira Like no other sport, football brings people together. use of the work). González-Vallés, (middle), streetfootballworld Frees their minds, ignites their passion. The game (bottom) Florian Wegenstein; p. 5 (top) Sebastian reaches billions, all over the world and it has the Non-commercial – you may not use this Gil Miranda, (bottom left) Joana Freitas/Associação power to make an incredible difference in people’s work for commercial purposes. CAIS; p. 6–17 Joana Freitas/Associação CAIS; p. 18 & lives and communities. 19 EA Sports; p. 20–23 the third half; p. 24 KICKFAIR; Share alike – if you alter, transform, or p. 26 & 27 Florian Wegenstein; p. 28 Karachi United The world, that is frayed at the seams, that has build upon this work, you may distribute Football Foundation; p. 29 Watoto Wasoka; burning issues we need to tackle...This world needs the resulting work only under the same or p. 22 KICKFAIR; p. 24 & 25 Florian Wegenstein; football more than ever before. similar licence to this one. p. 30 streetfootballworld; p. 31–34 Slum Soccer; p. 36–41 Common Goal; p. 42–46 Nadia Convery; p. 47 Together, let’s play for change. For the better of our YEDI; p. 48 & 49 YEDI; p. 49–51 Nadia Convery; p. world. 52–53 YEDI; p. 54–57 Joana Freitas/Associação CAIS; p. 58 & 59 Creative Commons; p. 60–79 Sebastian Eric Cantona Gil Miranda; p. 80–83 Fotbal Pro Rozvoj Football Legend

3 IN THIS ISSUE

6 60 Football4Good & Photography Spotlight ERIC CANTONA: AUSTIN GROUNDS: HOW A DUMP SITE AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW BECAME A SAFE SPACE FOR CHILDREN ARGENTINIAN PHOTOGRAPHER SEBASTIAN GIL MIRANDA CAPTURES THE STORY OF AUSTIN AND HIS WORK ALONGSIDE FÚTBOL MÁS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF YOUTH IN 18 24 28 50 MATHARE, KENYA. Partner Highlight The Common Goal Movement streetfootballworld Network Stories from the Network EA SPORTS ALEXANDER MEET OUR 2 DEFENDING ESSWEIN MEETS NEW NETWORK HER GOALS TO 80 FOOTBALL FOR MEMBERS DEFEND OTHERS Around the World with Football GOOD IN GERMANY NOFIU AYOMIDE ARINOLA, AND CAPE VERDE YEDI, NIGERIA 20 THIS SUMMER, COMMON GOAL 58 PLAYER ALEXANDER ESSWEIN 30 CZE IC the third half VISITED FOOTBALL FOR FROM AN ILLEGAL Football4Good in History CH REPUBL GOOD ORGANISATIONS In Focus SETTLEMENT TO DISCOVER THE KICKFAIR AND DELTA CULTURA “WIN OR LOSE, WORLD, ASIA A WORLD CUP BUT ALWAYS WITH CAMBODIA EMPOWERING 2,200 AURIO CASTRO, CAIS, AND COLOMBIA CHANGE LIVES GIRLS IN INDIA TO PORTUGAL DEMOCRACY” MIKE GEDDES EXPLAINS HOW HAVE #NOMORELIMITS EXPERIENCE FOOTBALL-BASED TRIPS HELP FOOTBALL FOR GRASSROOTS ORGANISATIONS SCALE THEIR IMPACT EUROPE GOOD IN THE CZECH FOOTBALL LEGENDS LINE UP REPUBLIC FOR A COMMON GOAL IN SLOVENIA THIS SUMMER, YOUNG LEADERS FROM TIEMPO DE JUEGO AND SALT ACADEMY HEADED TO THE CZECH AFRICA REPUBLIC TO EXPERIENCE HOW FOOTBALL FOR GOOD FOOTBALL FOR GOOD IS CHANGING THE GAME FOR GIRLS IN NIGERIA 4 5 BEFORE MY CAREER AS A FOOTBALLER, I LOVED FOOTBALL. MY DREAM WAS TO BECOME A FOOTBALLER, BUT I KNEW THAT I WOULD DO SOMETHING ELSE AFTER THAT.

Eric Cantona, Football Legend & Common Goal Mentor

SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview

All the world’s a football pitch And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts…

6 7 SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview

“Ooh, ahh, Can-to-naa” echoes through the pulsating crowds of football enthusiasts. Even today, over 20 years after the subject of this chant left the stage of professional football to take on other roles, Eric Cantona is tightly woven into the fabric of football like few other professionals – past and present. The former star footballer is a man who has indeed played many parts throughout his life – whether on or off the pitch; whether taking his teams to victory with technical prowess and fierce determination or posing as a candidate for the French Presidency in 2012 to raise a flag about the country’s housing plight, one of the many social issues the 52-year-old has taken a stand on.

We meet Eric in his current home city Lisbon where he recounts his journey kicking “everything that looked like a ball” growing up in Marseille, turning his football pastime into passion and profession, rising to the peak of his career at Old Trafford, retiring at the young age of 30 to pursue other projects, while retaining his love of the sport, and how he today hopes to shape the future of the game in his newly acquired role of Mentor for Common Goal.

8 9 SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview

remember exactly. But I played in a team players moving around you and you have the ball you need to know exactly what that was so good, we won all the games to move around the players, so physically you will do with it and not start to think 6-0. I never touched the ball, just waited you need to be fit, really fit and the harder when you receive the ball. And during all week to play football and I just watched you work in training the more you can my career it was exactly the same, I my friends scoring goals. I wanted to play enjoy the game. anticipated what would happen after up front and score goals. Then I changed football. And the players should anticipate from a goalkeeper to striker, I started You retired from professional football it, they should be prepared. to score goals, we kept winning games in 1997, just before your 31st birthday. and then we won the championship in On JOE’s ‘Unfiltered’ podcast you told Though you say you were lucky to have our district. At age 12, I started to play in James O’Brien that it was because you other passions, were they sometimes a selections, selections of district. I started had lost your passion for the game. distraction when you were still playing to play in the selection and then I started How did that happen? professionally? to play for the league and then for the Before my career as a footballer, I loved Sometimes, when I was a player I had to national team at 15. When you start to football. My dream was to become a concentrate very hard on football because play in the selection, you can see that all footballer, but I knew that I would do my mind went to other things. I said: ‘No, the scouts, the recruiting staff from the something else after that. I think the no, I have to concentrate on the game’, professional clubs, they come to see all priority was to play football first, because even sometimes the day before the game, the players and then I started to think you finish your football career at the age the night before the game or the morning about being a professional. of 30, 35, and then you have plenty of time before the game, I was thinking about to do things. I have been lucky to have In the book ‘Cantona on Cantona’ you many passions. I knew for a long time that say: “No matter what the situation, I would do something else after football, I always think I have a chance of I was prepared to do something else. But winning.” Starting out as a professional this is not the case for all footballers. footballer, were you always this confident – and competitive? I think that an important It was a long time ago… but I think we thing in life - in football and in life - don’t change a lot. From when I was a kid until now, if I play cards I want to win, I is anticipation play pétanque, I want to win and when I was 10 it was exactly the same. I hated We should prepare the footballers, to lose. I play against the idea of losing. who don’t have other passions besides I think we are all competitive, all the football, for their life after they retire. people who become professional, they are We should prepare them, because it’s competitive. You cannot reach this level if very difficult after football. Football – it’s you are not. an adrenaline rush, it’s like a drug and when footballers retire most of them are What makes a good footballer, talent or depressed. They are depressed because training? physiologically your body is in demand So many kids play football and there are of the drugs that you were giving it every so many talents, you have to work hard. week or two times a week. For the players It is hard to imagine an Eric Cantona We all have a talent, some footballers have who, after football, become a manager, without football. But there was, of more talent than me, but talent is what, it’s ok, but for the ones who don’t have course, a time when playing football 50%? We have to work very hard. Mentally, a goal, what do they do? From the age was a new experience to you. When it’s very hard to find the confidence to of 14 or 15 they went to the academy in did you first play? And how did football enjoy the game. My philosophy in sports a professional way, trained two times a something else. I still love football but you develop from a pastime into a passion? – not only in sports, today it’s the same week, and then played two times a week need to work hard and mentally it is very My grandmother used to say that as soon as an actor – is that we need to work and then suddenly: nothing. Most of demanding. So, to be at 100%, you need as I started to walk I kicked everything hard to find the confidence and with them are not even prepared for not being to make sacrifices; be careful of what you that looked like a ball. I lived in an area confidence we can enjoy it. Winning is all recognised in the street six months or one eat, what time you go to bed, what you of Marseille where football was the about enjoyment; working hard, it’s an year after they retire. think, how you are concentrating. If you most important thing, all the kids played enjoyment, too. I love to work, I love to go When the players stop playing they have 100% of the passion you can do that, football: we played around the house, in to the training session, I love the shower fall into emptiness and depression. As you can deal with that. If you lose 10% of the street, everywhere. We had a great after the training session, very tired, and long as you are a footballer it’s full of your passion, you cannot do it. Of course club called Caillols, an amateur club but a to be in my car driving back to the house great things but they don’t realise they I could have played longer, I had the very good club for kids and the stadium on the motorway after a job well done. I should be prepared for what comes after. passion for playing the game, but to play was one kilometre from our house. My have been lucky to play with good teams I think that an important thing in life – the game and enjoy the game you need father was playing for this club, he was a who play wonderful football and to play in football and in life – is anticipation, to work hard and to work hard you need goalkeeper. I started as a goalkeeper, I wonderful football is not only about skill. to anticipate. Anticipate everything, to to make all the sacrifices around. And I wanted to be like him. The first season I Yes, you have to have skilful players, but anticipate your relationship, anticipate in just lost a bit of the passion to make those played at age 8 or 9, I don’t know, I can’t you need to move a lot, you have all the business, in football. Before you receive sacrifices, so I said: ‘I prefer to retire’.

10 11 SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview If you could relive any day or moment than me, but he knew that I needed time of your professional football career and he gave it to me. Then, the next five which would that be and why? months we were just unbelievable. We It was the time I spent at Manchester won away against Newcastle. We won so United. I’ve been lucky because I spent many games, the important games…it was from the age of 25 to 30 at United. Being more than football, it was more than only in your 30s is the best moment, they are winning things, it was winning with a new the best years for a footballer, because generation of player, with young players you have experience and physically you who were 18, 19. are still good. I spent these years with a great manager, Alex Ferguson, who If you were starting out again, aged understood me like he was my father, 15/16, with football the way it is he helped me a lot, and with wonderful nowadays, would you still be the player players around me. I played with two you became? Would you still have the generations of players, the first one when same passion? I arrived and then a new generation of Yes, I think so. When you see most of the players coming through the academy players, they are passionate about the of United so they knew exactly the game, they are really passionate because philosophy of the club and the identity of it is like a bit of an obsession, a bit crazy. the club. You want to reach perfection, which is impossible, but you want to get as close You want to reach perfection, as possible and all the footballers are like which is impossible, but you want this, they are passionate about the game, but they want to always do something to get as close as possible better, and better and better and better. It’s an obsession, which is good for some Ferguson was the manager of the first things but it’s bad for others. Because team, but he knew all the players from when you are obsessive, you are obsessive the age of 14. He knew all their names, about everything. he knew all their qualities, all they need to work, everything, he spoke to them. Do you think that money and fame are It was, I think, like Cruyff when he was more important for footballers than in Barcelona. It’s like the players of they used to be in the past? Barcelona: they played together since My father, my parents, never spoke to the age of 15, they can play together with me about money, never, only about the their eyes closed. I am lucky to have been passion for the game, only about the game, with Manchester United then. the enjoyment of the game and winning. But I heard that now for some kids, their Any specific time to highlight? parents want them to become famous and Of course I loved when I came back from earn a lot of money. I heard that it is like suspension after 9 months and we won this now. Not everyone, no, but a lot of the double. We had ten games to go, we parents. Now we live an era that’s all about were 9 points and one game ahead of being famous, even just for five seconds, Newcastle and we won the league. It was and one artist anticipated that. It was Andy with the new generation of players and Warhol, who said seventy years ago that it was their first season. At the beginning in the year 2000, everybody would have of the first season we lost and one of their minute of celebrity, of glory. He said the old players [Alan Hanson] said: “you that then, and now it is all about becoming cannot win with young players”. And we famous. But (when I started out), I didn’t won the league and then we won the cup care about becoming famous, I didn’t against Liverpool in the last second of the play football to become famous, I didn’t game, I scored in that game, and I had play football to earn money, I would have only come back in October because I was paid to play football and I’m sure that if I banned for 9 months. The game when offer you the chance to play in Wembley, I came back was against Liverpool and to play at Old Trafford in front of 70,000 I scored…and assisted. We drew 2-2 at people for United, you would pay for that. home. When you cannot play for 9 months You ask 99% of the people, they would pay you need time to fully get back to your for it, and I would have done the same. level. It took me 2 or 3 months to come Of course, it was a business and I took my back to my level and I did so thanks to share of the money but I didn’t play for Ferguson, who kept me on the team at the that, I never thought about that. I think time. There were other footballers better most of the players are the same.

12 13 SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview

to earn the money? And the chairman football”, which is great. Football, it’s so helped the people and football helped the and the owners of the club? The principal popular, people love football so much, you immigrants. actors are the players. So it is normal can use football to achieve so many things. Football, like arts, can be a very that they earn money. It’s like in a movie, positive tool to access, for example, if you are Jonny Depp in ‘Pirates of the Football, like arts, can be a very education. Can you imagine if we did not Caribbean’ millions of people will go and positive tool to access, for example, have football in the world? In the favelas in see the movie, so it’s just a normal thing. Brazil? In this area here in Portugal? In the For me the most significant thing is that education poor areas in India, Mexico or Colombia? the price of watching a live game has Football and arts, or sports in general increased a lot. I remember when I was I made a documentary on football and because it differs from country to country a kid I could go to watch matches. If it immigration and football is popular, it is a – in the United States, for example, it’s was today, I wouldn’t be able to go to the way of communicating, of course. From all basketball, can have a great impact… in stadium with my parents. It helped me a waves of immigration in France, you had most countries it’s football but also music, lot to go as a kid, to see what I don’t see in the 1920s, Raymond Kopa who played arts… the poets of the street. This is why on TV, to feel the atmosphere. Today, all for Real Madrid, he was of Polish descent. I believe that what Common Goal does the people from a poor area, they cannot Then you get Platini from the immigration is great, and I think you found the right What is your opinion on how the go to the matches. of the Italians and then Zidane from angle, because with football you can do so football industry has changed since you The federations have a responsibility, the North Africans, and around them many things. retired as a football player? I think, to provide part of the stadium to even more. But they are three of the I think most of the journalists speak about middle-class or poor people. I think, as a best players in France. So, immigration how the players earn too much money, result, in the future we will have different and all the people say that also, not just players. It’s like a manager who never the journalists but also the people who played football, you are a great manager read the newspapers and the ones in front but you are missing something, because of the TV. But why do they earn so much you never played, never felt what it is to money? Because there are so many games be a player. You will have a player who will on TV, because all the newspapers speak be great, but something will be missing, about football and they pay the rights for something magical will be missed by the English football or for French football or ones who cannot go to matches today, Spanish football, billions. Because so many cannot watch a game in the stadium, live, games are on TV you have the sponsors, but only on TV or PlayStation. all the sponsors around the pitch, the ones on the shirts. Back in the day, when Do you see a way for football to there were only three channels, when I shift back to a more purely sporting was a kid, we could see only the matches experience? of the national team, the French Cup final It’s impossible, it’s just utopic. You can’t and the European final, the Champions go back to having ten matches on TV League, it was the ‘League of Champions’ a year. It’s like if you ask someone if at the time, and that’s it. But now there they can live without their phone, it’s are so many games, if you organise an impossible now. TV pays the billions event the sponsor will ask you: ‘Is it on because they will earn money, they will TV? Will the journalists will be there? Who sell to the sponsors and everyone. Nobody will speak about it?’ And the prices are not invests money to lose money, if they pay the same. So, if you say it’s on TV Channel a billion it’s because they think they will 1, they will say they will pay one hundred earn two. thousand for example. So, the business is built by the media. The positive side to this is football’s enormous reach. Do you think that, The federations have a as a result, the beautiful game has responsibility, I think, to provide the ability to change the world for the better? part of the stadium to middle-class I think that football is so important to or poor people the people that you can use football for anything. When I was in Medellin I worked with displaced people, it was The people who are in front of the TV and displaced people but it was nearly like a the journalists, they are the ones who say city, 50,000 people lived there. There was the players earn too much money, but a foundation that simply built a football if they buy the rights to English football, pitch and helped the kids to go to school. Spanish football, it’s to see Ronaldo, it’s to They told them: “You need to work well at see Messi and they want only the sponsor school and then you will be allowed to play

14 15 SPOTLIGHT Eric Cantona: An In-Depth Interview

You yourself have always been open don’t even want to give their names. I about your opinion on a number of think in football it’s not more difficult to THERE ARE PLAYERS WHO WANT TO societal issues, in 2012 even launching find somebody human than in another CHANGE THE WORLD, THE PLAYERS ARE NOT a faux candidacy for French presidency business. The problem today with the to mobilise the public over France’s players, because we speak about the DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF HUMANITY housing crisis. What are the social topics players, is that before reaching the players you currently feel most passionate you have to speak first to the agent. And about; that get your blood boiling? sometimes the players don’t even know I am involved with Fondation Abbé Pierre that you sent the email, they don’t even in France. It is for homeless people, it is know it. I think if you have time to spend a big foundation, created by Abbé Pierre, with the players around the table then it who died a few years ago. He worked a will be different…not for all of them. But lot for homeless people, he was fighting I don’t think you have more bad people alone, with a team around him but he was in football than the rest of society. Also alone leading it. When he knew he would from the age of 15 there are a lot of die he reached out to 20 people who are demands in football, the concentration, to well-known, in cinema, sports, etc., and I be concentrated on football, only speak then became one of them and we did a lot about football. But what is important to of things. For me, helping the homeless note is that in football you have most of people is the most important thing, the players coming from poor areas. So, because you have families that live in a car. they should be connected. They should I think that to have a roof is the basis of be connected, but I think it’s the business everything. Of course to have good health around them (that is the problem). is a very important thing, but if you don’t have a roof over your head, you are on the Common Goal encourages players, street, you lose confidence, people don’t managers and football industry even look at you. Now, what can football members to donate 1% of their wages do? We have people who take care of these to a cause of their choice. Do you homeless people, taking them to training think that the idea of giving can be and then, if they work well in training, they implemented in the football world? will play for the national team and in the I’m sure that if you ask all the players they Homeless World Cup. This is very positive will be paying, depending on the country, as they then have a goal, every day. As I around 40-50% in taxes. In Spain it’s what? said, for me the most important is having a 40%? In England it’s 40%, in France it’s home and football can help a lot. nearly 50%, let’s say 45% on average… If To take action is very important. Right you ask the players if they would prefer now, you have a lot of refugees in Europe to give 45% to the state or to foundations, without a roof. You sometimes have actors they will give to foundations. I say maybe or singers who speak a lot, but often do even more. If you ask people: ‘Do you nothing. The government should do more. prefer to give 40% to the state or 50% to I have a small house in Marseille, I gave it a foundation?’ they will prefer to give to for 2 years to a family of refugees. I did it the foundation. But people increasingly to set an example and help people instead need to know where the money goes. of just speaking. I didn’t do it for the public We see all the work the foundations do, image, I didn’t care, but I wanted to set an and as I said before: ‘Imagine if we didn’t example for others. have football, but now imagine if there were no foundations…in France, or in As narrator of the 2015 arte Spain, or anywhere. There are players who documentary ‘Les rebelles du foot’ you want to change the world, the players are paid tribute to five former professional not different from the rest of humanity. footballers (Didier Drogba, Sócrates, I hope society will erase the need for Rachid Mekhloufi, Predrag Pašić, Carlos these kinds of foundations and football Caszely) who took a stand for political will help, but unfortunately, right now, and social justice. Which currently we need these foundations. It’s also all active football players would you about reputations, you work well, you are highlight and why? honest, but it takes time. I think most of I think Juan Mata does a lot. You also have the people trust you and it will be even players who do things and don’t say it. more and more and more in the years to Just like you have the people outside of come. But you do a great job and I will football who give money. Someone may not say only Common Goal but all these send (money) to many areas, but they people who work for society are examples.

16 17 PARTNER HIGHLIGHT TEAM FOOTBALL FOR GOOD EA SPORTS One of the biggest names in the gaming world, Alex Hunter, made his debut in 2016’s FIFA 17. ABOUT Introduced in the popular new game mode ‘The EA SPORTS Journey’, fans can follow Hunter’s journey through the world of football, from playing on Clapham Common as a young boy to becoming Real Madrid’s latest Galactico. The gaming mode has always placed an emphasis on how the player’s decisions both on and off the pitch impact the storyline, as the gamer negotiates the challenges of being one of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a football’s brightest up and coming stars. global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The company “I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THIS develops and delivers games, content AGREEMENT WITH EA. AS ONE OF THE LARGEST and online services for Internet- COMPANIES OF ITS KIND, WITH AN IMPORTANT ROLE connected consoles, mobile devices WITHIN THE BROADER FOOTBALL INDUSTRY, THIS and personal computers. EA has more PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY than 300 million registered players FOR ALL OF US HERE AT COMMON GOAL.” around the world. Jürgen Griesbeck, streetfootballworld & Common Goal Founder In the fiscal year of 2018, EA posted a GAAP net revenue of $5.15 The latest edition of the game, FIFA 19, released billion. Headquartered in Redwood at the end of September, marks the third and City, California, EA is recognised for a final instalment of Alex Hunter’s story. He is now portfolio of critically acclaimed, high- HOME GUEST at one of the biggest clubs in the world, Real quality brands such as The Sims™, Madrid and still has many challenges to face and Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, choices to make. One such choice, thanks to a Battlefield™, Need for Speed™, Dragon new partnership with EA Sports, is the opportunity Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More to take the pledge and become a member of the information about EA is available at Common Goal team, with the aim of increasing www.ea.com/news. awareness of the movement. Gamers may even spot the familiar faces of other Common Goal members welcoming Alex to the Common Goal COMMON GOAL ANNOUNCES team in game. They will also be given the option of using the new Common Goal branded shirts – debuted in this month’s Bilje 2018 charity match – NEW PARTNER: EA SPORTS in the popular Ultimate Team game mode. It is a partnership that Common Goal are very excited about, as co-founder Jürgen Griesbeck explained, “I am delighted to be able to announce Celebrating its first birthday only last August, Common this agreement with EA. As one of the largest companies of its kind, with an important role within Goal has had an eventful initial 12 months. With the broader football industry, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity for all of us here players from Argentina to Uganda, coaches of teams at Common Goal. EA has an incredible reach, with fans of all ages across the world.” from the German Bundesliga to the Afghan National The FIFA series from EA Sports is a global phenomenon with tens of millions of players side, to the UEFA President and varying organisations worldwide. FIFA has been used by coaches to simulate in-game scenarios and has even been from a professional football team to an international credited with the growth of football in North America. Whether played on a football pitch or bank, Common Goal has assembled a diverse range gaming console, Common Goal aims to make pledging 1% an industry standard across the whole of members, all making the commitment towards sport, giving back to football for good organisations around the world and making the world a better changing the world for good through football. Their place through the beautiful game. EA Sports is well placed to recognise the power latest signing however, marks another first for the of football for good and as such, in addition to placing Common Goal in FIFA, has donated $200,000 movement, a virtual star of the renowned video game to streetfootballworld in support of the movement and its capacity to drive progress towards achieving series; EA Sport’s FIFA. the UN Global Goals with the aid of football. 18 19 THE THIRD HALF Discover the World, Change Lives

The third half is an adventure football travel company with a social purpose: helping grassroots organisations scale their social impact in underserved communities. the third half offers passionate travellers the chance to see the world through the game they love - whilst making a difference. As the third half moves from an idea to an independent business, co-Founder Mike Geddes, explains how the initiative – powered by streetfootballworld – first came about and how it plans to address one of the biggest challenges facing the football for good sector: how to create sustainable revenue.

20 21 THE THIRD HALF Discover the World, Change Lives

There were more than a few the organisation’s mission. The tears in the room as the young impact of the tours was obvious woman told her story. How she THIS EXPERIENCE – both in generating unrestricted was raped, shot and left for OPENED MY EYES revenue for Kick4Life and in turning the visitors into lifelong dead. How the assault left her TO WHAT WE TAKE HIV positive in a country where supporters. The challenge, as so the disease was seen as a death FOR GRANTED BACK often in the non-profit space, was sentence. How she felt at many AT HOME. IT MAKES how to take this idea to scale. points that there was no reason YOU WANT TO STOP Our solution was to start a new kind of business. Together to carry on. WORRYING ABOUT with Definition XI, a travel company We were sat in the offices of YOUR OWN LIFE AND specialising in overseas football Kick4Life, a streetfootballworld GO OUT AND HELP tours for clubs and schools, we network member in Lesotho, OTHERS.” created a social enterprise that Southern Africa. The audience – would use football – often called Charlie, Lesotho twenty or so high-school students (visiting Kick4Life) the world’s only common language from Atlanta in the United States – to educate people about global – listened intently as the woman issues whilst addressing the spoke about how her life had been biggest challenge in our sector – turned around by football – first as how to create sustainable revenue. solve their own problems. Similarly, hope of solving the challenges a player, then as a coach and now Tourism is one of the world’s many models have been accused ahead, we need to all be playing on as a role model and youth leader biggest industries, contributing of creating a dangerous imbalance THE REVENUE WE the same team and speaking the in her community. The impact on over 7 trillion dollars to the global between traveller and local GENERATE FROM THE same language. And there is only economy annually and growing one global language. the students was clear: “Actually community, what is often termed THIRD HALF IS VERY hearing people talk about how every year. When we started to ‘poverty tourism’. For us, football is the way these issues affect them makes you look into trends within the industry This is why the IMPORTANT BECAUSE we create a ‘level playing field’ understand what the statistics you we saw a gap in the market at streetfootballworld network is IT SUSTAINS THE between travellers and the local learn in school really mean,” said the intersection of three large so important to the third half. ORGANISATION SO WE community. It’s also the medium and growing segments: Sports through which we deliver a one. “It makes you want to stop By working with trusted local CAN EMPOWER MORE worrying about the issues in your tourism, student tourism and organisations with deep roots in curriculum - designed by one of own life and to go out and help ‘responsible’ (or ‘volunteer’) their communities we can ensure YOUTH.” the world’s leading experts on others,” said another. Even more tourism are all multi-billion dollar the solutions are locally-owned. We Maleshoane ‘Lash’ Mokhati, sports-based education – that meaningful was the reaction of the industries and growing all the quickly found that many network Kick4Life teaches transferable skills like (third half local host), Lesotho students at the end of their ten-day time. This growth is driven by members were either already teamwork, critical thinking, trip when they realised that, thanks the millennial generation, that experimenting with tourism as conscious leadership and empathy to their visit, Kick4Life had raised is also driving an important shift a potential revenue stream or (something studies show is a enough funds to provide free HIV toward ‘conscious consumerism’, were keen to try – we just had to largely learned trait). testing and counselling to 2000 where people gravitate towards give them the model. It was also Since that first trip we have orphans and vulnerable children. brands that have a purpose and important that we addressed what organised further third half At that point, we knew that it can “make a difference”. (In fact, we knew was the biggest need – to experiences for travellers of all could work: that we could build a 70% of Millennials report that they help these organisations generate ages in Ireland, South Africa and new generation of global citizens would be willing to pay more for a their own revenue. That’s why each Colombia, learning a lot in the and support the Sustainable product that makes a difference on third half experience includes a process about how we should Development Goals by combining issues they care about). We started guaranteed financial investment in improve our model to be of football, travel and social to think that we could combine the the local host and, where possible, maximum benefit to the local responsibility. THE THIRD HALF world’s biggest industry and the engages and employs local people organisations. We have also begun The inspiration for the world’s biggest consumer trend to deliver the programme. to explore a whole new dimension SHOWED ME THAT third half came from Kick4Life with the world’s biggest sport. As well as seizing the IT’S BEEN WAY MORE when we organised trips for themselves, who had been SOCCER CAN One challenge we faced opportunity we were driven by members of the Common Goal THAN I IMAGINED. experimenting with various models REALLY BE A WAY TO early on was how to avoid something more fundamental – the initiative to experience first-hand IT PUSHES YOU OUT for generating their own income to INTRODUCE YOU TO ‘voluntourism’. Although tourism growing division and inequality the impact of their support. After support their programmes. They is vital to the growth of many in human society. Hatred, OF YOUR COMFORT proving the model on a shoestring OTHER CULTURES. TO began offering their supporters emerging economies, there is discrimination and nationalism are ZONE. THE THINGS budget with a tiny team and very the chance to tour Lesotho as TALK TO FOLKS, HEAR increasing criticism of the real on the rise and public discourse few resources, we also managed to WE’VE DONE ARE a football team, playing games THEIR STORIES, AND value of short-term volunteer is becoming more and more secure a seed round of investment SOMETHING I’D NEVER against the locals and experiencing LEARN WHAT THEY holidays, however good the polarised, driven by social media. that we are using to launch the the work of the organisation in intentions behind them. Critics Studies show that many people IMAGINE DOING BACK organisation as an independent ARE ABOUT. IT BRINGS educating children about HIV and argue that the value of free believe empathy – the ability to HOME.” business. Today, we’re proud to AIDS. The travellers raised the PEOPLE TOGETHER.” volunteer labour is outweighed understand and share the feelings enter a new period of growth for Marina, Ireland money for their trip and anything Sarah, Colombia by the need for local employment of others – is disappearing from (visiting Sport Against Racism the third half and say to the world – left over went towards supporting (visiting Tiempo de Juego) and the desire of local people to our lives. If we are to have any Ireland) “Welcome to the beautiful game.”

22 23 THE COMMON GOAL MOVEMENT Alexander Esswein in Germany and Cape Verde

I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE CHILDREN. WE DIDN’T EVEN SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE BUT ON THE COURT, WHEN WE PLAYED FIVE- ON-FIVE FOOTBALL, IT JUST WORKED. WE DEFENDED TOGETHER, WE CELEBRATED TOGETHER, IT WAS JUST EASY. THAT’S Alexander TRULY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT FOOTBALL.

Alexander Esswein, Esswein Hertha BSC Player & Common Goal Member Meets This summer, Common Goal member Alexander Football Esswein visited football for good organisations KICKFAIR and Delta Cultura. KICKFAIR, based in Southern Germany, uses football as a way of giving all for young people, regardless of income, sex, or disability, an opportunity to succeed in life; Delta Cultura, based Good on the small island of Cape Verde, is using the game as a tool to get young people off the streets and educate in them for a better future.

Originally from Worms, Germany, Alexander more kids with this passion are able to also access began his footballing career with the youth this kind of support network.” Germany team of FC Kaiserslautern. He has since played Alexander started his trip in Speyer where for several renowned clubs in the Bundesliga and KICKFAIR organised a tournament between two is currently with Hertha BSC. Alexander has long schools. felt a calling towards supporting and empowering The tournament was an opportunity for disadvantaged youth, and with Common Goal, he pupils of both schools to show off the confidence and found an impactful way to do it. and skills they have gained through football Alexander explains why he wanted to join despite dealing with disabilities. On the day of the movement: “I joined Common Goal because the tournament, Alexander dove straight in, it offers a solution to what I’ve wanted to do for learned about the football3 method, how the a long time: to give back and to support kids in tournament was organised (which was done by Cape Verde disadvantaged and difficult situations through the youngsters) and, of course, played some football. From when I was a young kid I could football with the kids. The initial shyness of the never put the ball aside. This passion and my children soon gave way to their enthusiasm to support network have brought me a long way. have a professional footballer join them for this Through Common Goal, I want to make sure that special tournament.

24 25 COMMON GOAL MOVEMENT Alexander Esswein in Germany and Cape Verde

During the second part of his trip, Alexander expectations,” Renate Esswein reflects on the trip. travelled with his mother Renate to experience the “It was a complete change of perspective seeing work of Delta Cultura in Cape Verde. The trip was what children in Cape Verde have to struggle with organised by the third half, a Common Goal partner compared to our daily lives back in Germany.” company that specialises in football themed travel But the Essweins were not the only ones who adventures with a social purpose. “I was really were glad they embarked on this visit. Florian, impressed by the children. When I stepped into co-founder of Delta Cultura, and the staff at Delta the centre, their faces lit up with smiles. I didn’t do Cultura were just as thrilled about the footballer’s anything, just came here to play football with them. visit: “We had a fantastic time with Alexander and And even without the same language, on the court Renate, they are such lovely people and were so when we played five-on-five football, it just worked. interested in supporting the children but also the We defended together, we celebrated together, it rest of the team. It was a truly special week for the was just easy. That’s truly the most beautiful thing whole organisation.“ about football,” Alex says of his first impressions at “In the mornings, the kids waited for us to go Delta Cultura. back to play football and we hardly ever stopped Renate and Alexander spent one week with kicking,” Alex remembers laughing and with a smile the organisation where they learnt about Delta in his eyes. “It was really like some of them became Cultura’s different education programmes and my younger brothers and sisters. Now that I have spent time getting to know the kids and staff. They seen the work of this organisation, I feel like I have got to see first hand Delta Cultura’s educational even more of a responsibility. I have experienced programmes around music, languages, school what I can do with such small things: just by giving tutoring, art and, of course, football. “Marisa my time and being here. I will never forget the and Florian (the founders of Delta Cultura) were smiles in the children’s faces when we played incredible. They took amazing care of us, showed together. It is definitely not the last time that I us around the organisation and welcomed us as if will have visited an organisation like this. I’m very we were part of the family. It really exceeded our happy to have had this experience.”

26 27 WORLDWIDE NETWORK MEMBERS

84 COUNTRIES 1 2.5M PEOPLE 127 EMPOWERED NETWORK MEMBERS 2

MEET OUR 2 new NETWORK MEMBERS

2 KARACHI UNITED FOOTBALL FOUNDATION Country: Uganda WATOTO WASOKA Karachi United was established in 1996 with the aim of promoting Watoto Wasoka is a community-led NGO based in Bakuli, the largest Main social topics: Education, football at the grassroots level and achieving football excellence slum of Kampala, in Uganda. Its programmes are focused on slum Employability, Health, Social Integration, in Pakistan. In 2010 Karachi United launched their not-for-profit and street children. The vision of the organisation is to change the Youth Leadership youth programmes, evolving to usher in a new era of community 1 lives of children in the slums of Uganda by using football to provide development through football, and for football itself. They operate access to schools, as well as promoting access to water, sanitation Country: Pakistan 12 community centres through which they engage underprivileged Number of beneficiaries/year: 8000 and hygiene services (WASH). youth in and around Karachi and Southern Pakistan in inclusive, Main social topics: Education, open for all, non talent-focused football for good programmes. Age range of beneficiaries: 10–18 Gender Equality, Social Integration, WE USE THE VIBRANT PASSION FOR FOOTBALL AS A VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE Youth Leadership SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF SLUM AND STREET CHILDREN. OUR WE AIM TO LEVERAGE THE POWER OF SPORT TO CREATE TANGIBLE MISSION IS TO CREATE PURPOSEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY IN A SAFE COMMUNITY UPLIFT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISE THE BAR OF PAKISTAN’S Number of beneficiaries/year: 5000 ENVIRONMENT. WE AIM TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF SLUM CHILDREN IN NASCENT FOOTBALL INDUSTRY. UGANDA THROUGH FOOTBALL – ONE GAME AT A TIME.” Age range of beneficiaries: 8–18 Karachi United Watoto Wasoka Pakistan Uganda

28 29 IN F CUS ASIA

EMPOWERING 2,200 GIRLS IN INDIA TO HAVE #NOMORELIMITS

NAGPUR

30 31 IN FOCUS: ASIA Empowering 2,200 Girls in India to have #nomorelimits

Common Goal, WASH United and Slum Soccer have teamed up to develop, test and implement a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Education Guide. The project will provide girls with the information they need to manage their periods safely, hygienically and with confidence.

very day, roughly 800 million girls and Thus, the answer for many working in the field is community organisations in India, all members of Following the developments in Nagpur, the women around the world have their simple: education. the streetfootballworld network. The shared skills, guide will be shared with three streetfootballworld period. Nevertheless, in some parts of In light of these challenges, Common Goal has resources and expertise generated in the project, network members: Yuwa, Dream a Dream, and E the world, this normal bodily function teamed up with WASH United and Slum Soccer to will amplify both the impact and the reach of the OSCAR Foundation. All three organisations share is viewed as taboo and the consequences of develop, test and implement a Menstrual Hygiene project in India. The project is supported by 20 the same goal, yet take divergent approaches; that — from the loss of educational and economic Management (MHM) Education Guide in India; to Common Goal players and managers that have while Yuwa works directly with girls in rural India, opportunities, to social exclusion and a number of build the capacity of community organisations in pledged 1% of their salary to Common Goal. Dream a Dream works with teachers, and OSCAR possible health complications — are potentially dire. India working on female empowerment; and to with young leaders from the local community. A topic like menstruation is met with silence provide education to 2,200 girls in India. ABOUT THE PROJECT This diversity in approach among the in India. Over half of all girls have no knowledge The Common Goal project on Menstrual The project on menstrual hygiene management different organisations benefits the project as a of what is happening to their body during their Hygiene Management was selected in April 2018 in India is led by WASH United. After successfully whole, as each organisation will provide feedback first period, and as many as 1 in 4 girls do not as one of the two signature projects that Common creating a similar product through a human-centered and tailor the programme to their specific attend school due to menstruation. It is only with Goal is supporting throughout this year. Among design process in East Africa in 2016, WASH United contexts. Moreover, qualitative data is collected the knowledge of what menstruation entails, the many reasons the project was selected, is will adapt, develop and test this tool, together with from every instance of implementation, providing and how to manage it hygienically, that girls can because it encapsulates the spirit and philosophy Slum Soccer, in Nagpur, India, to ensure that it is additional information, which can be used to act accordingly and take charge of themselves. of the Common Goal movement, involving four effective in the specific cultural context. further refine the guide.

32 33 Empowering 2,200 Girls in IndiaEmpowering to have 2,200 #nomorelimits 34 IN FOCUS:ASIA ways. Itiswhy improvements inmenstrual hygiene can improve thelivesofyoungwomen in somany is aproblem, that, whenapproached appropriately, school, ortosufferfrom preventable infections.It life, they nolongerface the riskoffallingbehindin immense: girlsare able to participatefullyinpublic and family.ThebenefitsofMHMeducation are eager tospread theknowledge they gaintofriends implementation sofarhasbeenthatthegirlsare in theirown community.Oneoftheresults ofthe empower younggirlstobecomechange-makers girls across India,usingthepower offootballto All inall,theprogramme willreach over 2,200 IMPACT: #NOMORELIMITSFOR 2,200GIRLS with #nomorelimits. reach their fullpotentialandfulfilltheir dreams, with dignity,ontheirown terms. To enablegirlsto of girlsandwomengainthe abilitytolivetheirlives economic, health,andeducational benefits,millions would beabetterworldfor all.Beyond the and facilitiestoputthatknowledge intoaction, menstrual hygiene,andhasaccesstotheproducts receives adequateeducationregarding their (3, 4&5). three oftheUN’sSustainableDevelopment Goals management contributetowards thefulfilmentto A worldinwhichevery girlandwoman

OUTCOMES THE SOLUTION THE CHALLENGE 2 outof3girlsare unaware thatthe APR.–JUN. Guide MHM Education Completion ofthe uterus isthesource ofbleeding Guide. Theproject willprovide education for girlsonMHMandcapacity Common Goal,WASH United andSlumSoccer team upto develop, test and implementaMenstrualHygiene Management(MHM)Education COMMON GOAL PROJECT Which Sustainable Development Goals theproject addresses MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION ININDIA completely unaware ofmenstruation ADAPTED FOR INDIA GUIDE TESTED AND development for community organisations inIndia. MHM EDUCATION when they gettheirfirst period Over 50%ofIndiangirlsare Day Festival Menstrual Hygiene MAY 26–28 from family, nottouching certain food) temple, notplayingwithfriends, stay 3 outof4girlsface restrictions when ing inthehouse, sleepingseparately (Typical restrictions are: notentering #NOMORELIMITS on theirperiod CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR ORGANISATIONS JULY organisations community workshop for Training ofTrainers Schools selection& IN THEREGION Over 50%ofIndiangirlsconsider menstruation to beabnormal - AUG.–NOV. Evaluation Monitoring and Almost 1in4girlsare reported to missschool RECEIVE EDUCATION ON MHMININDIA IN 2,200 THE YEAR2018 GIRLS when ontheirperiod SEPT. –NOV. 20 schools of MHMsessions in Implementation

35 IN F CUS EUROPE

FOOTBALL LEGENDS LINE UP FOR A COMMON GOAL IN SLOVENIA

BILJE

36 37 IN FOCUS: EUROPE Football Legends line up for a Common Goal in Slovenia Football legends Luis Figo, Alessandro Del Piero and more lined up for Common Goal in Slovenia. In a match organised by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, Common Goal teamed up with UEFA initiative Equal Game and Slovenian charity Zavod Vozim to take part in ‘Bilje 2018’. In the small Slovenian village of Bilje, home to just over one thousand inhabitants, two teams prepared to take to the pitch: one representing Common Goal, the other Equal Game — with both sides made up of a mix of veteran Slovenian players, international legends and other notable football names.

rganised by UEFA President, and Common Goal member, Aleksander Čeferin and hosted by Slovenian side ND Bilje, the game was played for the benefit of Common Goal and Zavod Vozim — a Slovenian charity dedicated to establishing preventative programmes tackling road O traffic accidents and youth substance abuse. On show was an astonishing array of talent. Legends of the game, with countless honours to their names — from World Cups to Ballon D’ors — that added up would put most club sides to shame. As the game approached, heavy rain and thunderstorms were the order of the day, and fears increased that the weather would perhaps put a damper on the event, or worse, put the game at risk of cancellation. Thankfully, fortune favoured all involved, and with kick-off fast approaching, the clouds broke and set the stage for a wonderful game of football.

38 39 IN FOCUS: EUROPE Football Legends line up for a Common Goal in Slovenia

With the attacking talent of Robbie Keane, Dimitar 1.87m with an athletic frame, however, President Berbatov, Gaizka Mendieta, Nuno Gomes, Toto Pahor looked every bit at home amongst the ex- Schillaci and Alessandro Del Piero lining up for pros. Sandi Valentinčič — manager of host side, Common Goal facing off against an Equal Game ND Bilje — capitalised on his home advantage team with a defence consisting of Frank de Boer, and doubled the scoring, to put Equal Game two Ricardo Carvalho, and Nemanja Vidić — spectators up. Luis Figo, Milivoje Novaković, and Pierre van knew they would be in for a treat. Hoijdonk would go on and add to the scoring They say, “form is temporary, class is before Alessandro Del Piero fired home a second permanent” — well, all involved showed that to be half consolation, to make the final score 6–1 to true. The years were rolled back as players showed Equal Game. all the talent that made them among the best in the As the game came to an end both sides retired world: from a simple drop of the shoulder by Luis to their dressing rooms, enjoying the facilities at the Figo wrong footing an opponent, to Nemanja Vidic V Dolinci Stadium, usually home to ND Bilje of the reminding everyone why he was the nightmare of Slovenian Second League. Nonetheless, there were strikers all over the world for almost a decade. smiles all round, and soon the players and fans were LINE-UP mingling to their mutual pleasure — a far cry from MATCH REPORT the usual distance enforced between them. As the game began the crowd of almost 4000 COMMON GOAL TEAM watched on in anticipation. With all the attacking POST-MATCH CELEBRATIONS talent on the pitch, surely the first goal would come After leaving the ground, the players then went on 22 from a familiar source; perhaps a deft chip by Del to a dinner with a select group of fans. Over a meal Piero? A jinking run by Figo? A silky touch from of local food, the players had a chance to catch up 1 Mladen Dabanovič Berbatov? Rather, it would come from an altogether with each other — some old teammates, others old less likely individual, though one crucial for this rivals — swapping stories about the good old days 4 day to come together — Aleksander Čeferin, the to the delight of the fans lucky enough to be in President of UEFA for the Equal Game team. Never attendance.

Coach: Tomaž Kavčič Coach: Tomaž 5 16 3 6 a professional player himself, the former lawyer As the sun set on the September afternoon, 7 turned football executive was the one to break the everyone involved could be happy with a job well deadlock. done. While Equal Game ran away with the win on Lining up in the opposite goal for Common the pitch, in truth, it was a win for all involved as tens 8 12 13 14 Goal was the equally unlikely figure of Borut Pahor, of thousands of euros were raised for both Common 9 serving President of Slovenia. Standing at a striking Goal and Zavod Vozim.

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40 41 IN F CUS AFRICA

HOW FOOTBALL FOR GOOD IS CHANGING THE GAME FOR GIRLS IN NIGERIA

NIGERIA

42 43 IN FOCUS: AFRICA Changing the Game for Girls in Nigeria

In the last week of September, streetfootballworld headed to Nigeria to visit local network member YEDI, gain a renewed pitch-level view of the organisation’s work and visit some of the sites of one project, in particular. The trip was part of the SKILLZ Girl programme funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through streetfootballworld. The initiative aims at providing girls between the ages of 13 and 19 with the support they need to make self-determined decisions about their health and other important life choices.

s we fly over the vast expanse of the located. Established in 2011, the organisation with Sahara, its tufted dunes appearing like a local board and all Nigerian staff, began as a pilot auburn-coloured miniature meringues programme to bring the Grassroots Soccer (GRS) A from the plane’s altitude, I wonder what methodology, originally developed in South Africa, stories await at our destination. So far, the only to the country. Following its initial success, YEDI Nigerian tales I know are of the soaring Super Eagles has since expanded its work to reach children and (not least Common Goal’s William Troost-Ekong), young people in four states focusing predominantly Nigerian books from the likes of Chimamanda Ngozi on providing them with information and support Adichie or songs sung by Sade Adu. on health-related topics most relevant to them, Known as the ‘Giant of Africa’, Nigeria is gender-based violence and discrimination. To the continent’s most populous nation with over ensure the sustainability of its programmes, YEDI 180 million inhabitants and is spread like extra engages local people and structures and puts a thin dough across 923,768 kilometres between strong emphasis on youth development. With over Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin. Particularly its 90 million people below the age of 18, Nigeria western neighbours, with their more modest slim hosts the third-largest youth population in the strips of land, look like they were forced to move up world, following India and China: this is clearly ripe and stay in line. ground for youth empowerment.

A COUNTRY ON THE MOVE BMZ EMPOWERS 2000 GIRLS AND WOMEN Greeted by beaming – despite the long wait – YEDI One of YEDI’s most recent projects – ‘SKILLZ for driver, Mike, who stands out from the crowd in his Girls and Young Women – HIV/AIDS Prevention bright yellow Grassroots Soccer T-shirt, we slip into and Empowerment’ – is what has brought us the Lagosian night. The city is bursting at the seams here. Launched in November 2017, football-based with a population of, some say, 20 million, who all activities have been taking place in four target appear to be on the road at the same time. regions across the country: the states of Lagos and As we will discover over the coming week, Ogun in the south-west, Akwa Ibom in the south- Nigeria is a country on the move: not just on the east and Ajuba in the north of Nigeria, to reach girls pitch. A swarm of yellow Kekes (taxi tricycles), and young women between the ages of 13 and 19 motorbikes, oil trucks, formerly roadworthy cars, in school and out-of-school settings. Young adult flashy SUVs maneuver elegantly into all corners of coaches called “SKILLZ Coaches” visit the girls in the road. At first glance, it seems like more than their habitual environments – whether at school, a dozen accidents waiting to happen. But, for the their workplace or youth groups – to deliver a most part, it proves a tactic that works. curriculum consisting of 10 practices using football Lagos is where the headquarters of YEDI, the drills and metaphors to spread information vital to Youth Empowerment Development Initiative, is the healthy lives of these young women and to give

44 45 IN FOCUS: AFRICA Changing the Game for Girls in Nigeria

them the confidence and tools to lead empowered boyfriends, because they believe that having many IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WOMEN MAKE UP OVER 50 PERCENT OF lives, offering them a different story of what it relationships mean having many men to support THE POPULATION LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN NIGERA. means to be a woman in Nigeria. them – often by financial means. Here, the man The programme was created to focus on is expected to provide. It would be easy, but too Tomisin Ojo, adolescent women, YEDI’s Executive Director, Oje simplistic, to label this behaviour ‘prostitution’. Head of Programmes, Ivagba explains: “Based on reports and indicators, YEDI they appear as much more vulnerable to HIV, Teenage pregnancies are high, with some sexual violence and sexually transmitted infections. girls falling pregnant as early as 13 One of these girls lives frequently glancing out Stereotypes also restrict their ability to say no in just around the corner curiously. some communities.” His colleague, Tomisin Ojo, from the school. When We watch as the Head of Programmes, adds some figures from a Our first stop is one of the schools where YEDI one of the YEDI coaches young girls and boys 2011 study conducted by Action Health, stating: has been carrying out sessions. Engaging with the came to her home, Ikwo form a line, one close “Over 50% of girls had experienced physical and girls on their home turf makes it easier for them to Okon Ubukulo, learned behind the other, sexual violence by their partner and had no support participate, not having to find time and resources about the programme and protecting each other group or association outside of their families and to travel elsewhere. decided to join and learn from the ‘attack’ of religious organisations. It is estimated that women In one of the classrooms we witness a so- more about contraception, another child (who make up over 50 percent of the population of called ‘intervention’, a session run by YEDI coaches. safe sex, how best to symbolises HIV attacking people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.” The girls first take turns to recount and refresh protect herself from HIV. their immune system), some of the lessons they have learned during the Ikwo is a 19-year-old who approaches 24TH & 25TH SEPTEMBER: programme, then gather in a circle to pick up a single mother of two. The attempting to disrupt the AKWA IBOM STATE, SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA football and engage in the active learning methods father of her first child, she ranks. They, of course, Momentarily leaving lively Lagos behind, we set typical of the Grassroots Soccer model. During one explains, refuses to use condoms. The programme take turns, so no one is singled out. off the following morning to visit a SKILLZ Girl of the activities the ball is used to symbolise an taught her not only about different methods of Another group joins forces, clutching the programme site in the southeastern corner of “AIDS attack” – the girls must defend themselves contraception, but also gave her the self-confidence edges of a round white sheet to – in unison – flick the country: Akwa Ibom, a state close to Nigeria’s (through safe sex or by bolstering their immune and certain behavioural tactics to enable her to it up so that a ball placed in the middle flies as border with Cameroon, where YEDI has reached a system) from being struck by the ball posing as the refuse sex when she doesn’t want it. high as possible. Success is the result of a perfectly total of 499 young women and girls. immunodeficiency disease. executed team effort. After our brief Lagosian sensory overload, the “These girls have not been exposed to safe 26TH SEPTEMBER: state capital of Uyo, with only 500,000 inhabitants, practices regarding sex,” YEDI Master Coach, OGUN STATE, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA MEETING THE SKILLZ GIRLS IN OGUN STATE is dwarfed in comparison. But even here, people Imeobong Favour Inuaesiet, tells us. The activities Our return to “base camp” Lagos is brief before we We continue our journey and steer towards one line the streets, many more of them on the go on not only make the lessons literally more easy to head to the next SKILLZ Girl programme site: Ogun of the region’s schools to meet a few of the 600 smaller vehicles or on foot, balancing all manner of grasp, but also help to retain them to memory – State. The region is nicknamed the ‘Gateway to young women engaged here through the SKILLZ goods on their heads. though the girls may often forget the actual lesson, Nigeria’, which is slightly puzzling, as it lies not on Girl programme. The Head Teacher of Community Together with YEDI’s regional state they remember the football-based activity, that the country’s periphery but in the heart of Lagos’ Grammar School Owu, Mrs Omolara Iwayemi Coordinator, Regina Igwubor, we proceed from then revives the memory of the lesson’s content. vast hinterland. After leaving the main passable welcomes us and explains proudly that there has Uyo to the village of Oron. Along the way, Regina “You are passing the right information but in a fun artery leading out of Lagos, we enter rougher terrain. been but a single teenager pregnancy over the past tells us about some of the challenges the girls in way,” Favour continues, “It makes them get it more The rainy season’s attack on the roads makes for year. Whether the drop in figures is a direct result the region face. Teenage pregnancies are high, than just sitting in a classroom.” a particularly bumpy ride dodging the many lake- of the programme is yet to be determined. What with some girls falling pregnant as early as 13. They sized puddles. After two hours of testing the car’s she can tell us with certainty is that the coaches consequently drop out of school, many stigmatized MARY’S STORY suspension, we arrive at Moslem Primary School who ran the sessions were able to establish bonds for bearing children as unmarried women. Regina As the rest of the group files out of the class Imepe Ijebu-Ode, a brief diversion from our SKILLZ with the girls and act as their mentors, a role which also explains that young girls often have several towards home time, 16-year-old Mary Sunday stays Girl mission. A so-called ‘intervention’, a Grassroots the teachers, she tells us frankly, are often unable to talk to us. She lives locally in Oron, a sprawling Soccer football-based session, is currently underway to fulfil in their positions of authority. village of entangled houses and mainly dirt roads. that is part of a different YEDI programme: the ‘Skillz One of these coaches is 26-year-old Having lost her parents at the age of 8, she has Naija programme’, upon which the methodology Olaniewaju Titilope Sarah. Her own story has grown up with her grandmother. Feeling in need used in the BMZ-funded initiative is largely based. helped her to earn the girls’ trust. She discovered of extra support, she began socializing with a This exemplifies how successfully YEDI employs that when she was born, her father, who didn’t group of friends that “led her astray”, she says. existing and proven models to adapt them for want another girl in the family after her older They encouraged her to have several boyfriends further projects. sister, stopped giving her mother money to pay for simultaneously. “They will help you,” they told her. While SKILLZ Girls, however, targets only girls the children’s food. When her mother gave birth to With the help of the YEDI coach, who “came down to provide them with a safe space to learn about Olaniewaju, her father didn’t even pay the hospital to our level, became our friend, a sister, a mother, a and exchange without inhibitions on sensitive bill. He believed that boys would stay to take care teacher,” she realised that having four boyfriends, topics, such as menstrual hygiene management or of the family, while girls would later leave to get as she did at the time, made her vulnerable and birth control (rebranded as ‘child spacing’ to meet married. more at risk of not just an unwanted pregnancy, cultural sensitivities) this project brings girls and Cecilia Hope Johnson, a 16-year-old participant but of contracting HIV. boys together and promotes their equal interaction. at the school has learned from her coach and To also reach girls who have dropped out In the school yard, groups of children aged mentor Olaniewaju to contest traditional gender of school for reasons such as lack of finances or 10–13 are assembled, each with an assigned YEDI stereotypes. When asked what she would like to teenage pregnancies, YEDI coaches did rounds in coach leading the activities. Those pupils attending change about the current situation of men and the wider community, often going from house to do so of their own accord, the others remain in womens she responds: “Men should cook, too, and house to include other girls in the programme. class to continue with lessons. Though, not without women should also contribute money to the family.”

46 47 IN FOCUS: AFRICA Changing the Game for Girls in Nigeria

YEDI has cooperated with a number hub and plan the next, larger meeting, the group of businesses in the community where boarded a shuttle bus to join the tournament YEDI potentially at-risk girls are receiving was hosting that day.

vocational training 27TH SEPTEMBER: TOURNAMENT DAY To triumphantly mark the end of the SKILLZ Girl As well as meeting some of the in-school project, each region hosts a festival including a participants, we make two more stops to listen graduation ceremony with certificates awarded to how the programme has affected young girls to honour the girl’s successful completion of the not currently in education. Not all of these girls programme. can be considered as ‘drop-outs.’ Some of them The ‘YEDI-BMZ SKILLZ Girl football3 Festival’ in are currently undergoing professional training. Lagos not only celebrated the region’s participants, To reach these girls, YEDI has cooperated with a but the entire programme that has overall reached number of businesses in the community where 2000 vulnerable adolescent girls in state schools potentially at-risk girls are receiving vocational and out-of-school settings and equipped them with training. Two of the most popular job preferences comprehensive knowledge on sexual and reproductive are hairdressing or tailoring. We meet 18-year- health and rights, HIV prevention and life coping old Adenike Adegoke at the shop where she is skills. Attending were almost 200 young girls who had currently training to become a tailor. She tells us participated in the programme in Lagos, their parents, how she became pregnant without intention and stakeholders and community members. only learned through the programme how to now After words of welcome from YEDI and practise safe sex. Her story is one of the more streetfootballworld, the crowd-rousing MC awarded fortunate: the family of her child’s father has taken Paul Kelly the honorary title “Chukwu Emeka Igwe”, her in and her boyfriend has acknowledged his which loosely translates from Igbo as “May God fatherhood. However, there is still much she wishes be with you”. There ensued a fanfare of ‘Kilo’ flash to change about gender relations: firstly, she says, mobs and cultural performances, Igbo and Yoruba the perceived fact that girls don’t have the right dancers who involved the European guests – much to say no to sex, the fact that money is part of the to the crowd’s amusement. ‘Kilos’, we learned, relationship; that women are at risk of pregnancy. have nothing to do with gaining weight, but are a Grassroots Soccer method of showing appreciation: 26TH & 27TH SEPTEMBER: a synchronised series of finger clicks and different THE WEST AFRICA REGIONAL MEETING movements accompanied by loud chanting. The 26th and morning of the 27th is a time to widen the focus and look at both Nigeria and beyond. “When I got to YEDI, I saw football in a Representatives from Ghanaian network members different dimension. They trained us to use Whizzkids United and Play Soccer Ghana, and two local organisations YEDI and Search and Groom football to communicate.” Isimijola Damiola Ulushola, a 29-year-old THE STORY CONTINUES adjourn in Lagos for the first-ever gathering of SKILLZ Girl Coach, was also once caught in the After a successful festival, we gather at the YEDI network members from the region hosted by YEDI Some of the girls stepped forward to give web of gender stereotypes: “Before, I believed office the following day to meet the staff in their and coordinated by streetfootballworld Regional testimonials, the SKILLZ Girl coaches stepped football was just for guys.” Since joining YEDI, off-pitch habitat and gain an impression of the Manager for Africa, Paul Kelly. up for an exhibition match, followed by the she has started to play: “Well, not 90 minutes organisation’s other programmes. Some of the Lovette Ochicha from Search and Groom participants’ football3 tournament, medals- and football”, she adds modestly. “When I got to coaches from YEDI’s regular Grassroots Soccer said the meeting was a wonderful opportunity certificate ceremony. In parallel to the festivities, YEDI, I saw football in a different dimension. programmes arrive to explain their roles and share “to meet other member organisations of the the tournament was a further opportunity for us They trained us to use football to communicate. their own personal stories. During school term-time, streetfootballworld network physically, to to catch up with some more of the young girls and It helps you to enjoy what you are doing. You, these young leaders carry out activities as part of learn about what they do and build future women involved in the project. While watching the as a coach, are getting a message while the YEDI’s Grassroots Soccer programmes. They do collaborations.” In turn, the attendees explained ongoing match, 15-year-old SKILLZ Girl participant participants are also getting a message. It’s so voluntarily, many of them dedicating their time their organisation’s main programmes so that, at Abimbola Janet Funmilayo tells us that when the not just you facilitating, you are also getting each and every day to this work. Though they are the end, all had a clearer idea of possible overlaps programme came to her school, she jumped at the something in return.” all highly qualified individuals, many with degree and opportunities for exchange. chance to take part: “I wanted to be skilled, I wanted Like many other coaches, not only her titles, they are often living from their families The meeting closed with reflections from to be talented!” During the sessions, she says: “I participants, but she herself also benefits from unable to find employment. The other side to the group on the past 1 1/2 days. “This is just the got to know that beauty is not about your face, it is the programme. Experiencing sexual abuse from their unfortunate story enables the young people first meeting”, Anita Anala from Whizzkids United external to the body.” She also realised that “despite the community pastor as a young girl, she had engaged through YEDI’s programmes to change (Ghana) commented, “My hope is that, we are able being a girl”, she too could play football and that similar challenges to tackle: now she is keen to their life stories into happy ones. to meet again with more organisations on board. “what a man can do, a woman can do better!” prevent others from having such experiences, The video we watched on the East African region Previously, she had believed that she was worth less and, if they do, to encourage them not to keep HAPPILY EVER AFTER? tells me we can also come together, not only the due to her sex. After finishing primary school, her quiet like she once did. In future, Isimijola wants After a day full of further remarkable encounters organisations but the children as well. Exchange parents only allowed her brothers to go to the better to continue making an impact: “I want to be and accounts, we reluctantly tear ourselves away programmes broaden the mind.” school in their community. When she asked why, able to say, ‘I can’t count how many lives I have that evening to return to the accustomed stories of With these final thoughts and goals set for the they replied: “Because you are female, you will later touched. The sky isn’t the limit. The sky is the our “home grounds”. The story of football for good mid- and long term – to establish a communication only end up in the kitchen.” beginning!” in Nigeria is, however, not over. To be continued...

48 49 STORIES FROM THE NETWORK Shunned by her father as an infant, Nofiu was raised by YOUTH her resolute mother and experienced the challenges of EMPOWERMENT DEVELOPMENT growing up as a girl in Nigeria from the very beginning INITIATIVE of her life. This year, the BMZ-funded YEDI SKILLZ (YEDI) Girl programme came to her school to use football to teach her valuable lessons about self-determination and health, as well as sparking her resolve to never let anyone snatch away her dreams. It was not the first time the 16-year-old had encountered the revitalising force of football…

100 kilometres north east of Nigeria’s bustling SKILLZ Girl programme, she adjusts the green beret megacity Lagos, lies Ijebu Ife, a village presently of her school uniform and recounts in an earnest clothed in the lush leafy greenness of rainy voice: “We learnt about sex and gender, HIV/AIDS… season. It is one of the programme sites where We also learnt about how to know our rights, that streetfootballworld network member YEDI, the knowledge is power,” adding emphatically by way Youth Empowerment Development Initiative, of explanation: “I can’t just let a man violate my have implemented the SKILLZ Girl programme rights!” funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of All of the participants were given a diary Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). including the lessons transmitted, so that they could In May 2018, the project reached Nofiu’s school, read up and complete exercises between sessions, Comprehensive High School during which the information Ijebu Ife Senior, where YEDI was shared – and engrained in coaches began carrying out their minds – through football- sessions each Tuesday and based activities and drills. Nofiu Thursday, turning the school describes one of the games grounds into football grounds. that particularly stood out to Shortly before she her, ‘Shoot Away’, where the graduates from the programme, ball has to be defended from we visit Nofiu between classes to other players who try to “snatch listen to her reflect on the past it away”. Nofiu explains that: months of her intensive football “This represents that you need for good curriculum and the to protect your goals in life. You story that brought her here. have to be aware of what you want to become, so that no one “You have to be aware of what you want to can snatch it away from you.” become, so that no one can snatch it away Being able to do so is based on another important lesson. Nofiu learned: “I am beautiful from you.” NOFIU AYOMIDE ARINOLA, Nigeria because of the qualities in me, what I can do makes me beautiful,” adding with a grave face: “Before I As we enter the school gates, we pass a scattering thought: ‘I am nothing’. But with this programme of tree stumps adorned with slogans. One reads: I know that I am beautiful with everything that “The way you play today will determine what you I do. When people come up to me to tell me I become tomorrow.” We meet Nofiu in her school am beautiful, I can say ‘I know that’,” she says DEFENDING HER GOALS library to discover just how apt this will prove. her smile returning. But what made her feel like The façade of the building is also not lacking a “nothing”? Nofiu looks down at her sandalled feet, motivational statement: “Knowledge is light”. her voice falters. “I felt like nothing because of a To inform us of some of the illuminating problem at home,” she proffers tentatively, her TO DEFEND OTHERS knowledge Nofiu has gained by participating in the previous flow of speech momentarily stemmed. 50 51 STORIES FROM THE NETWORK Defending her Goals to Defend Others

He asked her what she wanted to be: “A barrister!” footballing knowledge is gleaned only from Nofiu responded without hesitation. After the newspaper headlines or when passing shops with encounter with this resolute young woman, the televisions flickering football images through the barrister agreed to fund her education up to windows, as her mother can’t afford to buy them GCSE level. Though Nofiu attends a state school, their own set. But Nofiu says that she has managed education is still not free, with payments mounting to see the likes of Messi in action: “I love the way up for books, levies and other expenses. Some he dribbles, as if there was no one in front of him!” other schools also require pupils to provide their She would love to learn his technique and also, own desk chair. most importantly, how she can finally shoot at the goal without the goalkeeper always catching “THE WORLD’S BEST COACH” the ball! If she met Messi or any other footballer, The barrister’s sponsorship is not enough to she would ask: “What have you done to become realise her dream of law school, but it is a first step. a footballer?” as well as “What have you gained Nofiu can’t contain her excitement when thinking from becoming a footballer?” With such unbridled about it. “Then I can say: ‘This is my judgement’!” curiosity and determination to improve herself, She booms confidently, her body language we hope to hear her one day pronounce a fist- transformed, pounding her fist on a desk. pounding sentence: “This is my judgement!” Growing up, Nofiu not only found strength in her mother’s support, but also in the beautiful game. When she was eight years old, her grandfather bought Nofiu her very first football. “It was white with black spots,” she remembers, her face lighting up. When she returned home from school each day and had completed all of her school assignments, she quickly picked up her treasured ball and raced to the small field adjacent to her house to meet her friends and play.

As well as being a wonderful way “to keep With some encouraging and softly spoken words love her!” Many of her future dreams are associated busy”, football was a pleasurable way to COACH MARYLIN TALKED from a YEDI mentor, the story erupts from within with her mother: “After my education I am going to her. “My real biological father and my mother are take care of her,” Nofiu exclaims, “build her a house, learn - and remember - important lessons TO US AS IF SHE WAS OUR not together,” Nofiu begins. buy her the most expensive car!” OWN SISTER. (...) I GAVE During the SKILLZ Girl programme Nofiu relished A CHALLENGING KICK-OFF IN LIFE Though Nofiu attends a state school, the chance to rekindle her passion for football and HER THE TITLE ‘WBC’ - During her pregnancy with Nofiu, her mother education is still not free, with payments discovered a different side to the game. As well ‘WORLD’S BEST COACH’. suffered regular beatings at the hands of her as being a wonderful way “to keep busy”, football husband. As Nofiu discovered later, her mother mounting up for books, levies and other was a pleasurable way to learn – and remember – Nofiu Ayomide Arinola, also often slept in the passage because her father expenses important lessons that will serve her well beyond YEDI would return home with another woman. But, the project term. It also promoted a sense of team heavily pregnant as she was, her mother accepted To make her mother proud and to offer some form spirit amongst her and the other girls attending, the situation. When Nofiu was born, her father of recompense for what she has given her, Nofiu and provided them all with a person of trust: YEDI wanted nothing to do with her. When the time came dreams of one day becoming a barrister. She tells Coach Mary Adekunle or “Coach Marilyn” as she is to name the baby eight days after the birth, as the the story of the barrister she once met. The only better known. local custom requires, Nofiu’s father didn’t appear one she has, in fact, ever met. The man came to “Coach Marilyn talked to us as if she was for the ceremony. Her mother sent one of the family her school to give a talk, sharing his story of how our own sister,” Nofiu smiles, “Even if we made members to go in search of him: he was found in he didn’t know what he wanted to be when he mistakes, she didn’t scold us. Instead, even if another woman’s embrace. Furious, Nofiu’s mother was young, but once he had decided to become a someone should make a mistake and we started confronted him. His reaction was to send her and his lawyer, he focussed all of his energy on attaining laughing she said, ‘No, nobody is right. Everybody infant daughter packing. his goal. His mother and father had little means is here to learn. If we all already knew everything, Nofiu didn’t see her father again until she to send him to university, but his outstanding nobody would be in this school’.” With this was 11. Until then, “I wouldn’t have recognised him performance at school earned him a scholarship. encouragement to keep on persevering, the group in the street,” she says, “He said he knew me as a Nofiu listened to the story and was filled with hope realised that to get ahead, to close in on their daughter. But I don’t understand how he can see and motivation. goals, mistakes were part of the game. To show her me as his daughter but not do anything about it. I The Senior Girl at the school chose Nofiu appreciation, Nofiu says: “I gave her the title ‘WBC’ don’t have any feelings for my dad.” to personally thank him on behalf of the school. – ‘World’s Best Coach’.” Despite her rough entrance into life, Nofiu Shortly afterwards, Nofiu was summoned to the This has made Nofiu realise that even acknowledges the extra dose of love her mother Principal’s Office. “But I wasn’t scared”, she said, the most successful people – like professional gave her and all of her efforts as an unqualified “I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong.” Quite the footballers kicking their way up the world’s highest tradeswoman to send her to school. “My mother is opposite. When she arrived, she found the barrister ranking leagues – also had to work through a kind person with a soft heart,” Nofiu smiles, “I just standing there eager to find out more about her. failure to get where they are today. Nofiu’s main

52 53 STORIES Aurio Castro, or ‘Puma’, as he is called by his peers FROM THE NETWORK and friends, came to Portugal from Angola with his ASSOCIAÇÃO mother at the age of three. Jamaica, an unfinished CAIS neighbourhood turned illegal settlement on the south side of Lisbon, became his home. His family wasn’t alone. Thousands of immigrants from former Portuguese colonies have settled in the area, a place overwhelmed by violence, drugs and extreme poverty.

Aurio Castro, or ‘Puma’, as he is called by his peers neighbourhood, or because of how they look or and friends, came to Portugal from Angola with his what they wear. “So let’s move on and try to show mother at the age of three. Jamaica, an unfinished people that, regardless of skin colour, we can neighbourhood turned illegal settlement on the always achieve our goals.” south side of Lisbon, became his home. His family wasn’t alone. Thousands of immigrants from DREAMING OF FOOTBALL former Portuguese colonies have settled in the “My dreams have always been about football,” neighbourhood, a place overwhelmed by violence, Puma recalls. “There were no other possible drugs and extreme poverty. paths. My dreams started on the Jamaica football Portugal Aurio ‘Puma’ Castro soon drafted bigger pitch as I used to miss classes just to play football AURIO CASTRO, plans for his life. Growing up in a difficult area, he with my friends. I would even arrive home very was determined to pursue a different path from late because I had been playing football during many of his peers. Football provided ‘Puma’ with the entire day, and my parents were angry. It was an alternative route and helped him find a stable really all about football.” place in society. Puma kept himself out of trouble thanks to FROM AN ILLEGAL “It is a dangerous district,” the 28-year- football. He could have easily lapsed into bad and old says of his neighbourhood. “It is one of the dangerous habits but he committed himself to a most dangerous ones here.” Even so, Jamaica is positive life. inscribed into his heart as a special place – “it’s my Contrary to many of his friends who fell by SETTLEMENT home,” he says. “Personally I really like the area the wayside, Puma sought stability. “My seven and if I have to live there all my life, I will.” best childhood friends are all in prison,” he says. He urges his young peers and friends to “They chose a completely different path from ignore any discrimination or racism directed mine. They chose that life, but my choice was a TO A WORLD CUP against them because they come from the different one.” 54 55 STORIES FROM THE NETWORK From an Illegal Settlement to a World Cup

AFTER RAIN COMES SHINE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY At one time, Puma dreamt of becoming a Ultimately, a new job opportunity appeared in professional footballer, and played for different Puma’s life, as he joined the Criar-T social aid I THINK THE STREET FOOTBALL local clubs. “I even went for trials at Benfica but organisation, a partner of CAIS. He now works PROGRAMME CAN BE A WAY unfortunately, I didn’t get in.” There was still the with people from different ethnic and cultural possibility of joining the Portuguese third division backgrounds, developing skills and activities. One TO ACHIEVE GOOD, BECAUSE but in the end it didn’t happen due to the fact that of his tasks is to coach the district team for the WHEN WE PLAY FOOTBALL, WE he didn’t have a residence permit. “I was sad for ‘Futebol de Rua’ National Tournament. myself that I couldn’t become the player that I FORGET ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS. could have been,” he adds. “I believe that the work I do today is the Aurio Castro, Time managed to heal his disappointment same that was done for me as a boy. Associação CAIS and in 2011 Puma enrolled in a street football programme with CAIS, which is supported by FIFA Now I have the chance to give back in the Foundation, the Portuguese Government and same way.” several private companies. Once there, he enjoyed a fabulous experience that had a profound effect Puma thoroughly enjoys making use of the chance on him and his future. to give back to the community. “I remember when “Our team took part in a regional I was a child, the Criar-T association used to give tournament and won it. Afterwards, we were many things to our neighbourhood and fortunately invited to a national tournament, and I remember they’ve always supported me. I believe that the being super motivated to perform and show my work I do today is the same that was done for me talent. After we had lost in the semi-finals, the as a boy. Now I have the chance to give back in the national coach came up and said to me: ‘You’re same way.” called up for the national team.’ I started crying Puma is seen as a role model and a reference tears of joy.” by the young people he coaches, especially because That same year, Puma travelled to Paris for he played in a Homeless World Cup tournament the Homeless World Cup, having been selected and more recently was awarded the title of ‘Best as captain of Portugal’s team. “It was a once- Street Football Coach’. “It is gratifying,” he says, in-a-lifetime experience, I learned a lot. It is an “and if at least one kid goes on to be successful experience that I will take with me for the rest of after having me influence his life one way or my life,” he said about the tournament. another, it would be the cherry on the cake.”

The 28-year-old knows that football can BEING AN EXAMPLE AND GIVING SUPPORT promote the development of values and life skills, Regarding other young people living in his like it happens with him and his peers who engage neighbourhood, Puma believes they can have in the educational activities of CAIS’ Street Football success in their lives and states that, “if they Programme. “Football helped me personally in have activities organised by the council or other the sense that it allowed me to meet other people organisations, they can build a positive life.” and develop my skills,” he says. “I made friends, I But support is needed and “if there are no interacted with society outside the neighbourhood.” activities in the neighbourhood, things can get difficult.” Puma wants young people to follow OPPORTUNITIES AND GRATITUDE his example but he also considers that Having had a humble beginning, Puma is now “sometimes it is necessary to have further grateful for the opportunities he had as well as assistance so we can have a path in our life.” for the way he is admired as a person. He hopes Puma says categorically: “I think the Street his experiences may positively impact the lives of Football Programme can be a way to achieve others. “Throughout my life I’ve acquired many good, because when we play football, we forget opportunities,” he says, “and if some escaped, about our problems. We are focused on the others appeared. I chose to rise up in life. You game, we want to be in a good mood and play have to grab the opportunities in front of you and happily.” keep going!” The boy from Jamaica is a shining example of Puma tries to pass on his strength also because how street football can make a positive difference. his experiences are able to inspire others in the He himself states emphatically: “If you ask me neighbourhood. It went from “Look, don’t go that whether street football can change a person’s life way,” to “Look, I’ve been in that situation,” he says. or not? Of course it can, it definitely can!”

56 57 1991

FOOTBALL4GOOD IN HISTORY knew that the more people they direct presidential elections 1992 Win or Lose, but Always with Democracy convinced to vote, the more they weren’t accepted by the regime, could harm the dictatorship. he would go and play in Italy. However, Corinthians didn’t urge This selfless act cemented 1991 people to vote for someone in Sócrates’ political legacy in Brazil. WIN OR LOSE, particular, just to vote. When the amendment of the Corinthians were having Direct Elections Now campaign 1990 a good season on the pitch was overturned by congress, and the fact that the players Sócrates kept his word and left 1989 but Always were fantastic footballers aided for Florence, playing there for their cause, with each win and a season before returning back goal gaining media coverage, to his homeland of Brazil the 1988 therefore also spreading the following year. with Democracy messages on their shirts. Seeing Sócrates passed away on the Corinthian players stand the day the Corinthians won the up, refusing the dictatorship, championship against Palmeiras 1987 inspired the nation and the in December, 2011. It matched a dictatorship lost in all major professed desire of his, having parts of the country; São Paulo, previously stated his wish: “to die 1986 Whilst Plato described he liked best. That was when I Brazil. His medical degree and felt that something was not right. his political awareness soon his master, the Greek But I only understood well much earned him the nickname later, in college.” “Doctor Sócrates”, or simply “The 1985 philosopher Socrates, Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio Doctor”. de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, Football in Brazil was being as someone who was known simply as Sócrates, organised in an authoritarian was a Brazilian attacking manner, with players not trusted hugely pessimistic about midfielder. Born in February, to behave and therefore made to 1954 in Belém do Pará, he endure ‘concentração’, a period 1984 democracy, millennia and his family moved to Sao of enforced confinement in the Paulo in 1960. Sócrates began team hotel 48 hours before later, his Brazilian kick-off. During his time with Corinthians, Sócrates co-founded namesake staked his the “Corinthians Democracy 1983 movement”, in order to challenge career and life on it. the club’s management. They began to vote on every decision, In 1962, a Military Dictatorship no matter how trivial, with all Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and on a Sunday when Corinthians seized power in Brazil with votes equal, whether coming more. The self-management style win a trophy.” A minute’s 1982 the aim of restoring financial from the board of directors or revolutionised by Corinthians was silence was held pre-match and and economic order, ridding the kit man. The Corinthians prosperous; they won the São everyone in the stadium had the country of any communist Democracy movement also Paulo (Paulista) Championship their fists raised in memory of elements and amending the began to protest with, at the in 1982 and 1983, a big deal the defiant “Doctor”. Corinthian’s constitution allowing them time, innovative methods. at the time, especially as they democracy concerned football, 1981 temporary authority to remove Corinthians were the first club had not managed to win the but not only football. It embodied democratically-elected officials to use advertising slogans on tournament for 30 years. When the dream of every Brazilian; of from office. Many opposed the their shirts and the team began Corinthians won the Paulista in removing the dictatorship and regime, but it was a then 10-year- printing political slogans on their 1983 against powerful rivals São seeing the return to universal 1980 old, named Sócrates Brasileiro jerseys such as “Democracia”, Paulo, the players took a huge suffrage. The togetherness Sampaio de Souza Vieira de even adding the image of a banner on to the pitch that read: of the Corinthians, brought a Oliveira, who would later have splash of blood for effect. “Ganhar ou perder mas sempre freshness to Brazilian football. 1979 a large impact in opposing this playing professional football The vast majority of Brazil com democracia (Win or lose In Brazil, it is said that ”you can dictatorship. for Botofogo-SP in 1974 before supported the Corinthians but always with democracy)”, not like football in Brazil, but During a coup d’état, transferring to Corinthians in Democracy movement and a reference to the diminishing if you don’t understand the 1978 Sócrates witnessed his father 1978, the club at which he spent it was recognised as largely strength of the military importance of football in Brazil, destroy many works of his most of his career. During his responsible for raising the dictatorship. then you cannot understand beloved book collection in fear time as a professional footballer political awareness of the In April 1984, Sócrates even Brazil”. People realised that the 1977 of reprisal from the military in Brazil, Sócrates achieved a Brazilian people. The movement spoke at a ‘Direct Elections Now’ beautiful game could convey dictatorship’s censorship. “In bachelor’s degree in medicine tried to turn the people in favour political rally in front of two important messages, which was 1964, I saw my father tear up from the Faculdade de Medicina of direct presidential elections, million people. There he hinged hugely important as information 1976 many books, because of the coup de Ribeirão Preto, a rare encouraging Brazilians to vote, his impending transfer, on the was suppressed in Brazil at that d’état. I thought that was absurd, achievement for a footballer with “DIA 15 VOTE” printed on outcome of a constitutional time…but who could suppress 1975 because the library was the thing in those days, particularly in the back of their shirts. They amendment; stating that if football?

58 1974 FOOTBALL4GOOD AND PHOTOGRAPHY FOOTBALL4GOOD AND PHOTOGRAPHY

60 61 Austin became known as a coach with a strong focus on developing female football players who would go on to become Kenyan champions. He also began to work with more children, the disabled, alcoholics, homeless; anyone who needed help in his neighbourhood. Austin’s engagement has been so great and powerful that he was baptized by the inhabitants of his community as “Baba Yao”, which means “The father of all”. In 2016, Austin meets Fútbol Más, a Chilean football for good organisation operating in seven countries and starting a 2-year pilot project in Nairobi’s informal settlements of Mathare and Kibera. “When Fútbol Más came, it gave me another meaning to football. Teaching life skills and strengthening resilience in the community, gave me a chance to nurture my players completely, impacting life skills in them, teaching them on various social issues that are present in our community,” Austin says. Together, Fútbol Más and Austin have implemented the Green Card Philosophy. As opposed to yellow and red cards that sanction negative behaviour, Fútbol Más uses Green Cards to recognise and reward positive behaviour. Austin is the co-founder of two community-based schools in Mathare: Valley View Academy and Destiny Junior Education Centre, with 700 and 300 students respectively. Fútbol Más works integrally, involving these schools in their programmes, promoting the well-being of girls and boys and young people, strengthening resilience processes and community cohesion through play, education and sports. Sara (12), Alice (14) and Mwikal (16) are three sisters from Mathare. Their mother didn’t have the money to send all of her six sons and daughters to school. The girls got involved with Fútbol Más by playing for Austin’s community team called ‘True Colours’. Thanks to Austin and Fútbol Más, they have been able to return to school. Mathare confronts a number of challenges: precarious housing, sanitation and high levels of poverty. In a community where over half of the population are below the age of 18, the high level of violence, normalised and accepted, strongly affects the normal development and education of the children and youth. The community is strongly affected by the brew called Chang’aa, which is infused with chemicals to make it stronger. It is very popular in Kenyan slums and is produced on the banks of the river in metal barrels. Many community members are addicted to it and, as a result, their families also become addicted; an addiction that often has fatal consequences. In September 2018 Fútbol Más was awarded 2 important prizes, the prestigious Beyond Sport Award in New York in the category ‘Sustainable Development Goal 11: Safer and Sustainable Communities’ and the ‘Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative’ at the World Football Summit in Madrid. Fútbol Más was born in Latin America and is currently operating in seven countries including Chile, Ecuador, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Fútbol Más Kenya offers a safe learning space for 650 children. The investment needed per child per month is approximately 10 USD, which covers everything needed to run the programme year round, Monday to Saturday. The pilot project is about to finish in a few months. In order to continue and scale the project in Kenya, Fútbol Más is in the process of engaging in new partnerships. This summer, young leaders from Tiempo de Juego and SALT Academy headed to the Czech Republic to experience football for good beyond their local pitches, in a different corner of the earth. Together with their hosts, C streetfootballworld network member Fotbal pro Rozvoj, ZEC they spent a month travelling around the country with H RE four Czech young leaders, visiting the organisation’s local PUBLIC partners, hosting workshops with local children, participating Somarey Tim in tournaments and cultural activities. Brayan Castellanos Brayan Garay from Tiempo de Juego and Somarey Tim from SALT Academy Castellanos share their personal accounts of this experience…

Football has changed my life. It isn’t only for fun, it also educated AROUND THE WORLD me by, for example, building my WITH leadership skills, my ability to inspire FOOTBALL women and men in Cambodia.

SOMAREY TIM, 22, SALT ACADEMY My name is Somarey Tim and I am 22 years old. having issues with my neighbors that girls weren’t I was a part of Mighty Girls at SALT Academy, supposed to play football. As a result, I got evicted Battambong, Cambodia. After getting a high school by the director of the orphanage. After I gave it degree at Dewey international school, I became a my all, SALT selected me to become part of the goalkeeper coach, for the Mighty Girls team. This is Mighty Girls Programme. Football has changed my my personal account about having the opportunity life. It isn’t only for fun, it also educated me by, for to go on a journey with Fotbal Pro Rozvoj in the example, building my leadership skills, my ability Czech Republic. to inspire women and men in Cambodia to have Football is my best friend. It always inspires the right to play - especially, girls from challenging me and makes me happy and has also given me backgrounds or unsafe places. a lot of friends. When I was a child, I lived in an I was very excited to get the opportunity with orphanage with my two sisters and my brothers in Fotbal Pro Rozvoj and take part in their campaign. different houses. I was the only girl who used to On the first day of the campaign we received an help the house mother as a good daughter. The incredible welcome. There were so many beautiful CAMBODIA AND COLOMBIA house mother never let me play with the boys. buildings with different styles of architecture in I also wasn’t supposed to know what football Prague, the traffic was so good. The traffic and was. One time, when I was playing football with people’s lifestyles are completely different from EXPERIENCE FOOTBALL FOR my childhood friend, I noticed that it was the what I know! first time that I was able to smile. Then I stared Next, we had a meeting with all of the training with the Mighty Girls team which is a part participants and each of us had to give a GOOD IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC of SALT Academy. But during that time I started presentation about our organisation. The countries 80 81 AROUND THE WORLD WITH FOOTBALL BRAYAN GARAY CASTELLANOS, 21, TIEMPO DE JUEGO learning from the experiences, I was able to My name is Brayan Garay Castellanos, I’m 21 strengthen my leadership skills and recognise that years old, am from Bogotá, Colombia and I this time spent with my colleagues from other work with Tiempo de Juego located in Cazucá, countries would inspire me to continue working with Soacha, Colombia. I have been participating in the my community back home. organisation for the past 12 years, during which It is important to say that everything was new and time I have learned that positive leadership and amazing for me and that through each trip the bonds the desire to get ahead always carry you to magical of friendship became stronger and that the people places. And one of those places was the beautiful who welcomed us in each place always made me feel and beloved Czech Republic, a country full of at home. They always cared for our well-being and history, castles, trains and kids who live out the about making us feel comfortable in each place. passion of football as an opportunity to share and Exchanges between a variety of cultures learn. showed me that it doesn’t matter if you live in Asia, Europe, America or anywhere in the world: we are all equal and friendship that is forged through the mutual experience of football are memorable for a I have always said that lifetime. I was impressed to see that in a short time strong bonds of friendship are forged. It also allowed me to confirm that leadership makes the heart football is the best tool vibrate, no matter what difficulties you have, if you can dream it, you can do it. I spent an unforgettable month surrounded by to promote community people who gave their very essence to the campaign, I learned to appreciate everything beautiful that life gives us, I learned to be more tolerant and empowerment. persevering to fulfill my achievements and, most importantly, the campaign inspired me to keep on working for my community. It was just after I had finished studying English that Some of my best memories are from when I represented were Cambodia, the Czech Republic we would visit. From week to week, we got a leader I was given the great opportunity to travel to the was in Ostrava, a city in the north-eastern part of and Colombia. We shared experiences about how from our team to guide us to the new regions until Czech Republic to participate in the annual campaign the country, where we were working with a small young leaders can become good leaders. During the end of the campaign. that local organisation and fellow streetfootballworld group of young people and adults who have physical the first week, we started training together, I returned from the programme having network member Fotbal Pro Rozvoj carry out disabilities and mental disorders. They gave me more having stereotype workshops, cooking sessions, gained a lot of knowledge, experiences, with around the country showing the powerful impact storytelling, cultural exchange programmes etc. increased confidence to speak in public, motivate that football3 has. It was very rewarding to share others, work in groups, with more ideas and experiences with different cultures and to learn from strategies to develop my organisation. It was the them; moreover to see that football is a universal best time for me ever. language which breaks barriers and stereotypes. I returned from the Last but not least I have just integrated In addition, the best reward that you can receive is some of those activities into my daily work. to see the happy and sincere smiles, cheerful faces, From 13th August to 7th September 2018 our sweet hugs of the kids at the end of each workshop programme with organisation carried out a project called ‘Summer or tournament. camp’. First of all, I selected 50 girls under 16 The Czech Republic welcomed me with cold and from different communities, some of whom left rainy weather but some quality and loving people more knowledge and school because their parents couldn’t support who, from the first day, made me feel at home. them. That’s why we decided to take the 2 It was interesting to cook for other people months of their vacation to educate them by and share the food from my country, teach them learnings than I could offer them since they taught experiences. It was the using football as a tool. We held English and traditional games of my culture and make them me that the beauty of the life is smiling despite the computer classes from 8-9am. Then, we gave understand that Colombia is not drugs, conflicts, war circumstances that life puts us in. them a few workshops and they went to training or gangs because for many people in the world, this I went back to Colombia full of emotions, best time for me ever. in the afternoon from 4-5pm before returning is the only image they have of the country. During encouragement, experiences, but above all with home. Every Friday we had a field trip with them, the stereotypes workshops, this was reflected in the the satisfaction of knowing that union creates we went hiking up mountains and organised a responses of the participants when they were asked force; that a group of young leaders are making We divided into three groups to oversee the football3 tournament. what they knew about Colombia. a difference through football contributing to the implementation of a workshop, a football3 From the 21st –24th of September, SALT During the first week, I gained a clearer idea social development of each of our countries. I have tournament and the management of the Academy cooperated with World Vision to host a of the programme and came to understand that the always said that football is the best tool to promote programme. It was a great opportunity for us that football Festival in Phnom Penh. Together with people who were there had the potential to generate community empowerment and make positive we could take time to discuss the purpose of the one of my colleagues, I was working to teach the small changes from their actions and that we all had changes motivating people to fulfill their dreams. programme from each country’s perspective and to 20 young leaders about the mediation of football the same idea to change our communities. As the motto of my organisation says: ‘As long as create some methods to work better with disabled 3. In the future I hope our girls or staff get the While we were traveling through the cities football exists, there is hope’ – ‘Mientras quede el people, teenagers and the kids in the next regions opportunity to join this programme again! sharing our knowledge with the children and futbol, quedan esperanzas.’ 82 83 LEARN MORE www.streetfootballworld.org

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