Chelsea legend, Gianluca Vialli has become ambassador toTeam Liberia, a team of street children who are entering into the Street Child World Cup.
The Blues’ hero supports Street Child, a charity that has been using football to improve the lives of street children in West Africa.
Vialli, who has recently been talking about his special connection with Chelsea fans, has made a connection with a rather different set of football enthusiasts in the past week.
Team Liberia is a team of Liberian children, who up until six months ago were still living on the streets. Now, with the help of UK-based charity, Street Child, they are competing in the Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
The tournament’s purpose is to raise awareness of the plight of disadvantaged children across the globe and provide street children with the opportunity to say “I am somebody” in the very same place where the world cup will be held in the summer.
In Liberia, recent civil wars and extremely high levels of poverty have left the country severely damaged.
There are many children living on the streets, away from their family homes, education and a normal childhood.
Street Child is one of the only charities doing something about this issue.
Vialli was initially introduced to Liberia’s problems by the footballing legend George Weah, who Vialli used to coach at Chelsea.
When asked about why he is supporting Street Child Vialli answered “I spoke to my best friend Georgie Weah a lot.
“I also go to Africa a lot-my wife is from South Africa-and I love it there, but I find it quite upsetting to see children there who don’t have similar opportunities, particularly in countries that struggle with civil wars.”
Street Child has been using weekly football sessions as a way of connecting with these street children. At their training sessions our Street Child social workers are able to engage with them and begin to help them turn their lives around.
Vialli added: “The charity gives children the opportunity to have hopes for the future through education to take them off the street- it gives them a future.”
He decided to get on board with Street Child not only because of his connection with Liberia and his support of the use of football in the developing world, but also because for the next three months every penny donated to Street Child’s ‘Every Child in School’ campaign will be matched by the UK Government.
As Vialli says, “The public have the chance to help some of the worlds poorest children go to school and for the next three months, donations to this campaign will be doubled by the UK Government”
Support Gianluca Vialli and Street Child and donate £3 a month to help thousands of children leave the streets and go to school. Text ‘STREETCHILD £3’ to 70707 or visit www.street-child.co.uk for more details.
Follow Team Liberia’s progress in Rio here: http://scwcteamliberia.blogspot.co.uk/