Youth Sport Uganda (YSU), in partnership with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday flagged off of Team Uganda to the Street Child World Cup (SCWC) scheduled for 5th to 15th October 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
The team that comprises of 10 boys aged 15-18 years from disadvantaged backgrounds, including three refugees and seven IDPs, flies out on Thursday. Other delegates will also be on board.
The Street Child World Cup, a FIFA World Cup side event, is an initiative of Street Child United and will be delivered in partnership with the Qatar Foundation.
At the flag off ceremony that was held at the National Hockey Stadium, Lugogo in Kampala, Zbigniew Paul Dime who is the Senior Protective Officer (Country-based) UNHCR lauded YSU for bringing the players together ahead of the global showpiece.
“Youth Sport Uganda (YSU) is doing a great job in helping street children, internally displaced persons and refugees and I want to thank them for that,” Zbigniew said before urging the players to strive to perform well in a bid to change their lives.
Team Uganda will advocate for the right to education as it has been documented that most refugees and vulnerable children in Uganda face challenges in attending mainstream education.
“Everyone has a right to inclusive education and I believe these players will use the platform (SCWC) to advocate for it. For us as UNHCR, we wish them well. Even if they don’t bring the trophy home, they have already done a lot,” Zbigniew added
Karen Mukibi who’s the Deputy Executive Director YSU and also leader of delegation noted that the SCWC is a good platform for the players to advocate for better education even here in Uganda.
“….the world should listen to them and even our own government should listen to them. It’s a great opportunity and I hope the world can listen to them and I also hope they’ll come back with a trophy,” Mukibi said.
Joash Bogere who’s the team captain is upbeat that the side will perform well having had internse drills at home prior to the tournament. He also said that they advocate for the right to education.
Jibu Water is one of Team Uganda’s partners and Harold Nyakahuma, who’s the Franchise Development Officer at Jibu Water said that the tournament could be a stepping for the players’ careers.
This year’s edition will be the fourth, following successes in South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014), and Russia (2018).
The event will bring together street-connected young people from across the world together to take part in a football tournament, a festival of arts, and advocate for their rights and protection through a child-focused Congress and General Assembly.
The SCWC 2022 will give the most
vulnerable children across the globe the chance to represent their countries and tell the world, “I am somebody.”
YSU, a sport for development organization, works with refugee and host community youth in the disadvantaged communities of Uganda and uses sport as a vehicle fo change.
The team received support from UNHCR and Jibu Water as partners.
