Brazilian street kids pin hopes on footballBelo Horizonte (Brazil) : For street children in this Brazilian city football is more than just a game. It is a passport to a better world.
The slum children live in genuine poverty. Their families are dysfunctional and they often get caught up in wars between the drug gangs. However, when they see a football, their eyes light up. The dream of performing before a big stadium crowd or of scoring a spectacular goal gives these youngsters the strength to break out of their misery.
A German charity, Don Bosco, is giving needy street children in this city of over a million residents the chance of a better life through football.
Don Bosco helps the poor children with its "Football for Street Children" project, which harnesses this love of football. The project is financed by donations from Germany.
"You have to give them prospects, the chance of a better life," says Brother Mesquita, a 75-year-old Salesian monk.
The centre has regular meal times too, but most of the children come in order to play without fear.
"In our part of town the upper streets belong to one gang, the lower streets belong to another gang. No one is allowed to cross into the other areas. If they do so there is a risk of real war. They have all got guns," says Davidson, a 14-year-old, at the Salesian centre in the Santa Lucia favela. He plays football here every day after school.
Twelve-year-old Mordone remarks: "I would like to become a professional footballer. This place gives me the chance to train. I can do it!"
Quinzinho, the coach here, was one of the first street kids whom the Salesians took under their wing. As a teenager he was a feared gang boss too. Today the 47-year-old is a social worker.
"Our boys are good football players," Quinzinho states happily. "We have won some games against teams from better parts of town. That raises their confidence and gives them courage for the future."
Along with the youth centres, the Salesians also run a home called "Casa Don Bosco" where street children can stay and get used to a normal daily routine.
"Without donations from Germany, our work here would scarcely be possible," says Brother Mesquita.
The Don Bosco mission in Bonn is the order's partner agency in Germany for international youth and development work. The religious order provides school and vocational education in over 130 countries.
The Salesians took over the running of the Belo Horizonte youth offenders institution a year ago. This is where teenagers charged with murder and robberies end up.
"For us the main thing is that these are children urgently in need of affection and love," says psychologist Jaqueline Atendimento. "The boys here have two ambitions in life. Either they want to be football players or a drug gang boss - which do you think is better?"
