Voice 1 Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid. Voice 2 And I'm Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1 In June 2010, the World Cup of football will happen in South Africa. This is a special honor for South Africa. It is the first African country to hold a World Cup. People from all over the world will travel to watch the games.
Voice 2 But not everyone in South Africa is excited about the World Cup. There are many street children in the city of Durban, one of the World Cup cities. These children do not have homes. They say that the government is removing them from the city. They say the government does not want street children to be seen by the people who come to the World Cup. The government does not deny that they are removing street children from Durban. But they say it is not because of the World Cup. They say it is an attempt to reduce crime.
Voice 1 Whatever the reason, the results are the same. Street children are moved away from the life they know. But one organization, called Umthombo, is reacting. They are using the World Cup to show that street children are not a problem to hide. They are simply children who need some help.
Voice 2 Today's Spotlight is on the Street Child World Cup. This is a global football championship for children who live on the street. Teams come from countries all around the world. The teams are made of boys and girls. They are all under eighteen years old. They are chosen by organizations in each country. The Street Child World Cup gives street children the chance to show they can do something good. The children meet people from all around the world. They share about their lives. And they learn about health, education, and making choices.
Voice 1 There are many reasons why a child may live on the street. Some have a bad family life. Sometimes a child does not have a family. Some children get in trouble with the police and run away. Other families do not have enough money. They tell their children to go and find their own way. This all depends on the family and the country.
Voice 2 But in any country, living on the street is not easy. When a child lives on the street, nobody cares for their most basic needs. It is difficult to get an education. It is difficult to get treatment when they are sick. The only love and guidance is from other street children. Many children sell drugs for money. Many use drugs to feel good.
Voice 1 Umthombo's goal is to change the way people see and treat street children. Street children can identify the problems they face. They can also find solutions. But they need the help of governments and other global organizations to do so. Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu said this on the Street Child World Cup website: Voice 3 "The Street Child World Cup demonstrates the great possibilities of every single child. Street children are often treated as less than human. I am proud that this first Street Child World Cup will take place in South Africa. I urge all governments to protect the rights of this group of their citizens." Voice 2 In March of 2010, street child football teams came to South Africa. They came from Brazil, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Tanzania, Ukraine, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Each team had a coach, an adult teacher. The coach taught them football skills.
Voice 1 But the Street Child World Cup was more than football games. Every morning the children spent time talking and learning. They made friends from all around the world. They discovered that many children had the same problems that they did.
Voice 2 They talked about being safe. They learned about getting health care and education. The children also met with organizations, government officials, and news reporters. They tried to find solutions to their problems. They even got training in their rights. In this way, they can work to help other children.
Voice 1 But every afternoon was all about football. Yet even in this, the children were learning. The South African Coach is Biza Madolo. In a video for the Street Child World Cup website, he told how his team had to play against the Philippine team. He said: Voice 4 "It was our big final. It was a difficult game. The children like all the other teams. But we especially like the Philippine team. So before the game the boys said, "Coach, today, let's pray not to injure other players. Not to play rough with other players. Let's play simple ball." I asked them, "Why?" Some of the boys said, "Because they are our friends." I said, "Come on! Do not tell me now you are going to lose because they are your friends." And they said, "No, but now we are one family." And it was so touching to hear that from them. They get the message. All children, wherever they are, once they come together, they are one family. It was a great game, a beautiful game. Both teams played well. I am proud of my boys because they did their best." Voice 2 At the end of the week, India was the 2010 Street Child World Cup Champion. And they were proud of this. All the children were proud of what they had done. But it was time for the teams to go home. The children had to leave their new friends. All the children will work with organizations in their home countries. This will make sure they do not need to go back on the streets. It will make sure the children have a better future.
Voice 2 The children of South Africa did not need to take an airplane to get home. Jenny Dawkins is the project manager for the United Kingdom for the Street Child World Cup. She wrote on their website: Voice 5 "As visiting teams drove away, the South African players walk away. They walked back to Umthombo's Safe Space. From there, most of the team have been taken into homes. Umthombo works to place children into homes every day. Not just after events like these. This work is not always easy. Children can come on and off the streets several times. Each child has different problems. But in the end, we all want to see children finding a home. Now that the Street Child World Cup is over, that work can begin." Voice 1 The writer and producer of this program was Adam Navis. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. Computer users can hear our programs, read our scripts, and see our word list on our website at http://www.Radio.English.net. This program is called "The Street Child World Cup." Voice 2 If you have a comment or question for Spotlight you can email us. Our email address is radio@english.net. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Thank you for listening. Goodbye!
