Street Child World Cup galvanises support for street children in Nepal

Team Nepal’s preparation for the next Street Child World Cup (SCWC) are well underway with the launch of a national league for street-connected children and orphans. The league, which kicked off on the 6 – 8th September, will be used to select the players who will go on to represent Nepal at the SCWC in Moscow next year.

The league is being supported by All Nepal Football Association, Nepal’s sports council, Nepal SBI Bank, Turkish Airlines and lots of young volunteers. The Finals will be held at Nepal’s national Dashrath Stadium.

Shelter Ashraya Nepal, the local charity leading Team Nepal have reported an increase in support since they announced their SCWC participation.

Khusbu Oli of Shelter said, “It is the first ever national event done for street-connected children and the excitement is really high. The children are working really hard to get there.”

The national football team is supporting us, former national players, captains, athletes, current national players for other sports like cricket, basketball are coming to encourage the children.”

Team Nepal are playing for the right to birth registration and to stop widespread use of the word “khate” (rag-pickers) in reference to street-connected children, which will help challenge the stigma and negative treatment they face.