In March 2010, street children from around the world will be welcomed in Durban, South Africa to compete in the first ever Deloitte Street Child World Cup. Children from nine countries will come together and find their voices through the global language of the game they love. Teams will work with international coaches to express themselves on the football pitch and with specially trained artists who will enable them to tell their stories.

The Street Child World Cup kicks off in Durban from the 15th to the 22nd March.

The Deloitte Street Child World Cup will place street children centre stage, celebrating their potential and providing a platform for them to talk about the issues that matter most to them. Through a process led by the children themselves, the Deloitte Street Child World Cup will formulate a global Street Child Manifesto, and launch a campaign calling for street children’s rights to a full, healthy, dignified life, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), are upheld.

The hosts of the World Cup are Umthombo. Umthombo is a unique South African street children organisation led predominantly by former street children. Umthombo aims to change the way that society perceives and treats street children through educating society as to the realities of the street child experience and through developing and implementing informed, working strategies to address the issue in South African cities. Umthombo believes that Durban is fast becoming the “Rio” of this decade, when it comes to issue of street children. Umthombo is based in Durban and focuses on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. It also has offices in East London in the Eastern Cape.

I know The Street Child World Cup demonstrates the tremendous potential of every single child, and especially street children, who are so often treated as less than human. I am proud that the first ever Street Child World Cup will take place in South Africa – and I urge all governments to guarantee the rights of this most marginalised group of their citizens to lives in which their promise is fulfilled – Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Street Child World Cup hosted by Umthombo is a wonderful opportunity to hear the forgotten voices of Street Children – often marginalised, this is their time to be heard and to shine on the world stage. From the football field to governments across the world, this a chance to celebrate the talent that every child has – Thandie Newton

I’ve played football as a teenager with the world watching me. The Street Child World Cup is a brilliant project which will help hundreds of thousands of teenagers who live on the streets by getting the world to listen to them and give them a fair chance – Theo Walcott

The Team England Footballers Charity support the Deloitte Street Child World Cup.

Former England captain David Beckham, said; “I know from personal experience just what power football can have to inspire and change young people’s lives whatever their background or nationality.  This is what the Deloitte Street Child World Cup is all about and I give it my full support.”

The England players will fund the participation of Manchester Youth Project M13 the ‘UK ambassadors’ for the tournament in South Africa in March.

The investment forms part of the players’ Outreach Programme, an initiative developed by the squad to improve opportunities for disadvantaged children and young adults across the country.

The week long event is an initiative led by UK Human Rights organisation Amos Trust www.amostrust.org Street children from countries including Brazil, India, Ukraine, Tanzania and of course South Africa will unite in their love of football and demand street children are given their rights.

Chris Rose of the Amos Trust: “We are thrilled to have the England team support the M13 Youth Project’s participation in the first event Deloitte Street Child World Cup. The England team know better than anyone the pride of representing your country and together we can make the voices of street children be heard.”

Helen Gatenby from M13 Youth Project: “Although children in the UK clearly do not face the same issues as those living on the streets in other participating countires, the UK team will go to listen, learn, participate on an equal footing and share their own valuable experiences of life in Ardwick.”

John Connolly, UK chief executive and global chairman of Deloitte, commented: “At Deloitte we are passionate about investing in and supporting local communities, and providing opportunities for young people to realise their full potential.  The Deloitte Street Child World Cup reflects these values.  It is a truly inspirational project that will give disadvantaged children from across the world a powerful voice on an international stage.”

The tournament has the backing of leading international politicians, dignitaries and football figures.

The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister, commented: “I commend the Street Child World Cup for providing a platform for the rights of street children to be heard.”

Biza Madolo, former Street Child and coach of Umthombo F.C., the South Africa street child team, said: “The Deloitte Street Child World Cup and it’s legacy is not only wonderful news for Umthombo and street children in South Africa but also for street children from across the world. I am proud to be a part of this unique event.”