Rising Above The Streets: Chennai’s Cricket Showdown For Street Children

170 street children from 13 countries participated in the week long Cricket World Cup Tournament for Street Children held in Chennai.
170 street children from 13 countries participated in the week long Cricket World Cup Tournament for Street Children held in Chennai.
A team of street children from Uganda lifted the cricket world cup for street children, Chennai hosted a week before the world cup cricket began in India. They won playing against Zimbabwe. Speaking to tellmystory.in the team captain Gerald Olipa said “I am very proud and excited. It means a lot to. our country. We have moved from nothing to something”.
 
170 street children from thirteen countries participated in the games. Launched in 2019 at the Lord’s in London ahead of  the then World Cup Cricket, the aim is to highlight issues faced by street children around the world and get the world listen to them, taking advantage of the hype the world cup cricket generates. 
 
On what changes she expects in her country for street children, Amisha, from Burundi said “I’d like to see access to education, access to identity and good food. Also we need to be listened to”.
 
Radhika from Sri Lanka’s Central province shared about the plight of poor children on the mountains. She said “These poor children particularly from minority communities walk through unsafe tea estates as there are no roads or bus service . They and their parents have no identity including birth certificates. Even I didn’t have any such and it was so difficult  to get one to come here. Every child should be given an identity”.
 
Organised by Street Children United, John Wroe, the CEO said “We aim to obtain birth certificates for at least a million children and send a thousand youngsters to universities”. The sporting event held at the Amir Mahal Ground  also was an opportunity for many to share experiences and make new friends.
 
There were a few children from developed countries or privileged background as well. Naomi from the United Kingdom said “I’d be the voice of the global street children once I return to my country”.
Launched in 2019, the aim is to draw world attention to the condition of street children around the world and get the world community listen to them ahead of the world cup cricket season.
Oliver Ballhatchet, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai who had helped in the conduct of these games said “Once the birth certificate is issued it gives them access to education and healthcare among others. The countries embrace them on return and these children even manage to get laws changed in their countries.
 
India had lifted the trophy in 2019 at the Lord’s. This time one of the Indian teams “India Tigers” reached only up to semi finals. Monisha, the team’s captain said “We are part of Karunalaya an NGO. We appeal to the government to not move us out of the shelter. Let us train together as a team”. 
 
The exposure and the awareness these games have been giving have helped street children  from Chennai. Some of them have completed University education.  Dr Paul Sunder Singh, Founder, Karunalaya who spearheads says “It should become a movement with public and government officials coming forward to help street children. Given the opportunity they can prove that they are somebody on the global stag

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  1. SA Trend News October 28, 2023 Reply

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