by Mona Chatterjee

My first experience with the Homeless World Cup began 3 years ago when I happened upon “Kicking It”, a film chronicling the lives of seven players as they journey to Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup and become heroes. The Homeless World Cup, which began in 2003, is an annually held international football tournament uniting and celebrating teams of people who are homeless but have rebuilt their lives through the power of the beautiful game.

I traveled to the HWC in Milan, Italy last year to volunteer with the program and saw first-hand how dramatic the program truly is, meeting players and coaches from all over the world. These people prove that football has the power to help people who are otherwise disadvantaged (whether it is because of drug/alcohol abuse, political exile or poverty) to build up their self-confidence and lead them towards a path for a better future. Numerous players I met have now become leaders in their communities. Some are now coaches for local street soccer outreach programs and even semi-professional football teams. Over 75% of the players worldwide have been reunited with family members, moved into homes and are gainfully employed.

I’d like to briefly introduce you to a few inspirational players.

Michele da Silva represented Brazil at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, winning best female player before going on to be selected to represent Brazil in the national under 21’s women’s team.

Michelle da Silva (right) was selected for Brazil’s national squad

David Duke represented Scotland at the Gothenberg 2004 Homeless World Cup and is now the founder of Street Soccer Scotland that works with 500 homeless people.

Street Soccer Scotland founder David Duke

The HWC has supported and worked with over 30,000 people annually and has generated a force that fosters grassroots football projects throughout the world. Over 60 nations are planning to attend the upcoming HWC in Rio de Janeiro this September to proudly represent their countries. Our current goal at the HWC is to help as many teams/players as possible to attain that goal. There are many HWC volunteers currently raising funds for needy players around the world. I would like to raise as much awareness for the HWC in the United States as possible and, to that end, am spearheading volunteer programs here for anyone who wants to help us coordinate fundraising events and viewing parties for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa to raise money for the HWC.

I am traveling to Finland this June to interview the players, coaches and managers of the Finland Homeless Street Soccer team and see firsthand their national finals. Last year in Milan, I was lucky enough to meet the young players in the Finnish national team and their incredible coach whose own story is beautiful and selfless. Their team was so cohesive and close it brought tears to my eyes on my last day with them. Many countries do not have such well-coordinated and publicly supported homeless national street soccer programs, so my overall goal is to use the Finnish program as a model for those countries struggling to maintain their own or initiate their own programs. And, in further effort to raise money to help send at least one player to the HWC in 2010, I have set up a donations website and blog where you can follow me as I train for the Santa Claus Marathon in Finland at the Arctic Circle and then blog my trip to Finland.

To learn more about how you can get involved and to make donations, please visit my blog:

http://www.justgiving.com/MonaforHomelessWorldCup
monaversusdesserts.blogspot.com

ps – The USA has an amazing team, thanks to the tireless efforts of Street Soccer USA.

About the Author:  Mona is a ONELOVE Ambassador based in Atlanta, GA.