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It’s not hard to understand why they call football the ‘beautiful game’. Not only does it pass time pretty well, but it also holds endless potential to change lives. Whether it be a vertically challenged Argentine weakling who ends up conquering the world or an Indian kid from a poor, abusive, broken home who becomes a functioning member of society again, football is an underrated cause for catharsis.
Slum Soccer is a sports-for-development organization that uses football as an intervention mechanism for social upliftment of downtrodden demographics, including recovering drug addicts, alcoholics, slum dwellers, street children, juvenile delinquents, and children of commercial sex workers. We have been in this field for 15 years, and have gone from strength to strength in that time.
The blue riband event in our annual calendar is our participation in the annual Homeless World Cup. Each year, 20 young boys and girls from tremendously underprivileged backgrounds become proud ambassadors of India. This year, the tournament kicks off in Oslo, Norway in late August.
We need you to get involved! This is your chance to help a movement that aims at the heart of the Indian grassroots football system while making a real difference in the lives of thousands of impoverished people all over the country.
What is the Homeless World Cup?
What is the Homeless World Cup?
The Homeless World Cup is a remarkable and unique tournament where thousands of players the world over have received a new start. They come there with the world on their shoulders, but the transformation that they undergo in just a week has to be seen to be believed.
Players who represent you, me and the rest of the country are from some of the most marginalized and at-risk sections of society. They are those who are shunned, abused and told that they will never amount to anything in life. When they are at the Homeless World Cup however, they are TEAM INDIA. Our flag flies for them and before every game, the national anthem plays for them. They immediately transform into proud athletes representing their home country. The effect that this has on their psyche cannot be underestimated. Need an example? Look no further than Reena Panchal!
This competition is about affording these people the respect and importance that their lives have hitherto lacked. It is about giving the 8000 kids back in India something to aim for and strive towards. It is about engendering empathy as people from 70 countries realize that they face common problems. It is about advocating for a global focus on and solution for homelessness, which is a real problem.
Tournament details:
Venue: Oslo, Norway
Dates: 29th August to 5th September
Tournament Official Page
Our Appeal:
We are in a race to raise Rs. 10 Lakhs to ensure we take a complete squad to Oslo. We require your support to make the dreams of our players a reality! The money raised would cover the cost of flights and visas for a squad of 20 (10 Male and 10 Female).
Our Appeal:
We are in a race to raise Rs. 10 Lakhs to ensure we take a complete squad to Oslo. We require your support to make the dreams of our players a reality! The money raised would cover the cost of flights and visas for a squad of 20 (10 Male and 10 Female).
