Teams appeal for Homeless World Cup cash help

Ten teams from economically poorer nations have appealed for help to raise money to travel to the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup.

A total of £80,000 is needed and if everyone around the world can give £1 for a mile the teams will get there!

Funds raised through the appeal will go directly to Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and India who require your support to participate.

The World Cup takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from July 29 to August 4

 Desmond Tutu, speaking at the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup, commented: "All over the world, I want to say, we've got to end homelessness. Everyone should have a home. It is a right, not a privilege.  People treat the homeless as if they're sub-human. In order to overcome this discrimination, we have to unite against homelessness as we did when we fought apartheid." 

AFGHANISTAN
Sanayee Development Foundation (SDF) is an Afghan NGO that has worked in Education, Peace Building, Civil Society Development and Community Health since 1990. Afghanistan has undergone more than two decades of bloody and bitter war. Playing football was forbidden under the Taliban regime and is now considered as a symbol on the way to a peaceful and free Afghan society.  These players have suffered a great deal and have been away from Afghanistan living in harsh conditions in refugee camps either in Iran or Pakistan. SDF helps the players to help themselves with a housing and education programs and psychological support.  TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £10,500.

INDIA
In 2001 Krida Vikas Sanstha Nagpur set up a street soccer programme to provide sports facilities and competitions to encourage young people who are homeless or living in slums away from drugs. Nearly 10,000 youths have been involved in sports competitions with them since. This is a Homeless World Cup debut team. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £5,000.

LIBERIA
After years of a devastating civil war Liberia finally held free and fair elections in 2005. Despite the peace, however, there is a huge problem with the war heritage of orphanage, child soldiers and poverty. More than 50 % of the population live under the poverty line on about one dollar a day. Sports to Develop the Under Privileged (SDU) aims to use sport, especially football, to combat these problems. The players in the Liberian Homeless World Cup team all experience the common problems of Liberian life: many lost parents and siblings in the conflict to find themselves homeless and excluded from society. The SDU and the Homeless World Cup are helping to change these players' lives. As one player says: "I lost my parents during the war. But since getting on the All-Star Homeless World Cup team I am no longer alone, I have found a life."  TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £10,500.

NIGERIA
Search and Groom, began life in Lagos' Ajegunle slum area in 2001, when a street soccer program was started to give young people the chance to use sport for social inclusion and acceptance. Search and Groom is a registered charity and employs 6 persons. Since 2006 a street league in Lagos is organised reaching out to about 800 players.  TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £9,600.

CAMEROON
ASAFE, a registered NGO, is training 400 young, homeless people to pick the national team. As they grow, they want to work with 4,000 young people around the country and set up a national tournament. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £10,000.

GHANA
The national team comes from Klang Martulis Soccer Academy. Organised by the Gimat Volunteer Network, it uses sport to develop the talents of youth and give them the chance to become vital members of the community. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £8,000.

ZAMBIA
The devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS virus has led to a huge number of young people, often orphans, living on the streets in Zambia. Often these youngsters are abused and at risk of infection. The Zambian Youth Academy aims to get youngsters away from the street and use sport to develop skills that will allow them to make positive change in their lives. As well as providing young people with the motivation and skills to succeed the Academy also runs a leadership programme aimed at nurturing future community leaders. And, with football leading the way, the Academy is committed to improving the quality of sport in Zambia. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £9,000.

UGANDA
The GYPA helps youths in Uganda affected by conflict, AIDS and poverty. The players, as role models, hope to use their participation as a way of building support for sports development projects in Uganda. One such project is Girls Kick It, which uses football to equip young women to be community leaders of the future.  TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £5,000.

ZIMBABWE
YASD is a non-profit making, community organisation that uses soccer to teach children and youths about HIV/AIDS prevention, self confidence and drug and alcohol abuse. The project is currently based in Hatcliffe, one of the most impoverished suburbs of Harare. The project's core aim is to teach young people by giving them access to high quality coaching in football, assertiveness and life skills. At the moment 300 young children from the age of 6 to 21 are catered for. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £8,000.

NAMIBIA
The Big Issue Namibia Street Soccer Tournament selects the national team for Namibia. Played on an inflatable court in Windhoek, the tournament now attracts teams, including private companies, from all over the country. TRAVEL FUNDING NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE: £3,000.

More information about the event is available by calling +44 (0)131 561 1796

Cheques can be made payable to ProPoor Sports by post to:
Homeless World Cup
51 Timber Bush
Edinburgh EH6 6QH
UK

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