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Kicking off for a brighter future - 26th October 2022

Doha in Qatar’s played host to the Street Child World Cup, where underprivileged adolescents, including displaced Syrian and Palestinan teens debuted their football skills in an 8 day football competition, which saw 28 men's and women's teams from 24 countries face off.

Despite being a football tournament, the competition's aimed at opening future doors for these teens and giving them a head start.

Hazem Attar, from the Syrian team, fled conflict in Aleppo, Syria with his family 7 years ago at the age of 10. He recounts the treacherous sea voyage to Turkey.

Hazem Attar: "We moved from Syria to Turkey by sea in 2016. I thought that the boat that took us would be modern and everyone would have their own room. But there ended up being more than 500 refugees on board, and we only just made it. Thank God we arrived OK."

Street Child United, the body which holds this football tournament prior to each World Cup, assists disadvantaged youths to establish their legal identity and thereby obtain a passport. Acting to offer hope for a better tomorrow through its work, the organisation attempts to shield these young people from harm and deliver educational opportunities. Additionally, it helps bring the childrens’ calls for change to the ears of their governments.

Julia Pimenta’s Street Child's teams and programmes manager.

Julia Pimenta: "Football is the language that we all speak here. So even though we don't speak the same languages, we understand each other. We understand playing football. So football is also the way for these young people to bond so they can deliver their message to the governments to talk serious when we need to. But is only possible because of football."

Palestinian goalkeeper Hanin Saleh and Syrian player Hazem Attar are clear on the outcomes they want to see.

Hanin Saleh: "This is the first time that Palestine is participating in a youth World Cup. We came here to talk about our country and the rights of our country and our rights, and we are so happy to be here in Doha. The right to play, the right to education, the right to express ourselves."

Hazem Attar: "We want a safe country. The second thing we are asking for is for families to be reunited. Currently, Syrians are separated, whether they are in Europe or elsewhere."