Street Strikers FC Play Karachi United FC to Celebrate Street Children’s Right to Play

Dec. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact: Ayla Azam    

Tel: 021-34820617

Email: ayla@azadfoundation.org

PRESS RELEASE

Street Strikers Play Karachi United Football Foundation to Celebrate Street Children’s Right to Play and Universal Children’s Day

KARACHI, Dec. 21 – a football match between a local team of street children “Street Strikers” and children’s team of Karachi United Football Foundation was organized by Azad Foundation with support of UNICEF today to celebrate street children’s right to play and Universal Children’s Day, at a local football ground. The event was attended by Director Sports (Karachi), Sindh Education Foundation representatives and children from their supported schools, Idara-E-Taleem O Agahi, Sindh Aids Control Programme, IEarn, Children’s Council, Pakistan Society, TRDP, Press and Electronic Media, SPARC, Teachers and Students from Govenrment Secondary School Shirin Jinnah Colony, parents, general public and Street Children.

The children’s right to play is a fundamental right ensured in article 31 of UNCRC which was ratified by State of Pakistan 1990. Sport is also an effective strategy to achieve goals of child protection and development. Sports for development is a growing strategy for awareness raising, life skills education, conflict resolution and peace building.

Unfortunately, the child’s right to play sports is not acknowledged as such at community or government level. Street children being most marginalized group amongst population of children in Pakistan are completely denied of this right as they are not given access to public or private recreational and sports facilities. This rips them of any opportunities to prove themselves in mainstream sports.

Azad Foundation, being the pioneer in advocating for the rights of street children, recognizes their right to play and has initiated sports for development programme in collaboration with local government (KMC) and partners from development sector in order to provide street children the access to facilities and opportunities to sports and recreation. This sports for development programme would engage street children in on-going rehabilitation and reintegration activities so that they can be reunified with their families and become productive citizens of the society.

The football match was a part of Azad Foundation’s S4D programme. The team of street children with the name of Street Strikers played with Karachi United Football Foundation. The match was also a reminder of the promise made in 1990 for the civil society, communities, media and most importantly the government.

The match kicked-off at 10.45 am. It was fast paced and audience was engaged by players’ moves during the whole match. Players of both teams showed good conduct and respect towards match rules. The final whistle blew with a score of 3 – 9 in favor of Karachi United Football Foundation. Interestingly, majority of players in Street Strikers had only a week to practice and prepare for the match where as some of them have never played or even seen a football for that matter. Therefore we are heading towards development as it is a continuing process in which Azad Foundation will further take initiatives to ensure street children’s right to play leading towards their rehabilitation and reintegration in the society.

ISSUED BY: AYLA AZAM (COMMUNICATION OFFICER – AZAD FOUNDATION)