28 March 2014
Street Child World Cup Kicks Off Today in Brazil
• Go Team Nicaragua! #SCWCTeamNicaragua
• Donate online here
Over the past two years, Methodist children and young people
have been encouraging local churches to help raise £30,000 for the
SCWC by organising fundraising events of their own. In Bristol,
young Methodists organized a fundraising event that was supported
by the whole District. The Revd Ward Jones, District Chairman,
volunteered to be gunked in a Cheshire cat onesie to raise money to
sponsor two teams from Nicaragua - a girls' team and a boys' team -
to take part in the tournament in Rio.
Tamara Wray, Methodist Youth President, said: "The Street Child
World Cup really can change the lives of street children; the young
people who participated in the SCWC in Durban in 2010 are now all
working and living independently because of Casa Alianza. They all
speak about the motivation and inspiration that they gained from
the experience. This is why we, along with our Methodist volunteers
who are in Rio helping out during the event, are proud to be
backing the Street Child World Cup because no child should ever
have to live or work on the streets."
The charity responsible for putting together the Nicaraguan teams
is Casa Alianza. Through a holistic programme of sports, art,
therapy, group sessions, education and spirituality, Casa Alianza
not only provides a safe haven but also a place where these street
children can equip themselves for a better life.
Roseanne Levermore is a ONE programme participant for the Joint
Public Issues Team. She will be one of a group of Methodists
supporting Team Nicaragua in Rio today. "I am really looking
forward to working with the Street Child World Cup and helping to
run their 'Fringe' sessions in Rio," she said. "This is a really
exciting part of the project that happens away from the football
pitch in the evenings. The children and young people will be given
a chance to reflect on the day, and a quiet space amongst the
excitement of the tournament. My role within the fringe team is to
coordinate the 'Relax' sessions. These involve yoga, art therapy,
sign language to music, hair braiding, sewing, cooking, and
practical classes including computer skills to name but a
few."
Following the Street Child World Cup, the Methodist Church in
Britain will continue to support the work of Casa Alianza in
Nicaragua. Youth President Tamara Wray will take part in a 10
kilometre charity run on 1 June. (You can support Tamara here). "As
people, we always look for the happy ending as this provides us
with comfort," added Tamara. "The Street Child World Cup is not the
happy ending: it's the beginning. So please support the SCWC and
Casa Alianza in the fantastic work that they are doing."
Ends.
1) ) There are several ways that you can give to the Street Child World Cup. You can donate online by going to the Methodist Church website here: www.methodist.org.uk/mission/street-child-world-cup
2) You can also donate by sending a cheque payable to the Amos
Trust and sending it to The Amos Trust, Parish Church of St Clement
Eastcheap, Clements Lane, London, EC4N 7HB. Please ensure that you
write "fundraising - Street Child World Cup - Nicaragua team" and
your name on the back of the cheque.
3) It's also possible to donate via online banking. The bank
account number for the Amos Trust is: 11909513. And the Sort Code
is: 16-20-30