Street Children Play World Cup in Durban

Street children from around the world have been flown to Durban to participate in the "street kids World Cup". Organizers are hoping the event will highlight the persistent problem South Africa and other countries face when trying to deal with their homeless youth populations.

The teams are competing on a school campus in downtown Durban, with vuvuzela trumpets blowing in stands filled with wigs and faces painted in national colours. The tournament wraps up Sunday with a final and trophy for the winner.

During the Fifa World Cup, organisers of the children's event will set up a surveillance system to reduce the risk of street kids facing abuse during the month-long tournament, and to set up sports events to keep them off the streets.

Street kids stage own World Cup
Independent Online
March 19, 2010