MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 28 August 2008
WOMEN KICK IT AT MELBOURNE 2008 HOMELESS WORLD CUP
• Women’s Cup held for the first time in Homeless World Cup history• 8 national women’s teams to participate
• Powerful new sponsorship opportunity
For the first time in the history of the Homeless World Cup, a Women’s Cup will be included at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup, the international football tournament changing lives. Eight nations and 80 women from Cameroon, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Kyrgzstan, Uganda, Zambia, Liberia and Paraguay will compete to become the first time champions at the event to be held from December 1-7 at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.
Founder and President of the Homeless World Cup, Mel Young, said: “The Homeless World Cup has demonstrated that sport has tremendous power to change lives, to change the world. Women participating in the previous tournaments have been tremendously successful and we want to build on this success. Introducing the Women’s Cup extends this life-changing opportunity and the benefits of sport to more and more women around the world."
“This is the first time the Women’s Cup has been included and we would like to see it grow, involve many more nations, and see the women participating become change-makers, ambassadors and inspirations within their communities.”
The Women’s Homeless World Cup aims to use football to energise women who are currently homeless to create the opportunity to change their own lives. It looks to counter the effects of homelessness, to encourage the development of community female leadership and increase the capacity for income generation through the creation of social projects.
In previous competitions women have made up approximately 10 per cent of the players and have created significant change in their lives. Michele da Silva represented Brazil at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, winning best female player before going on to be selected to represent Brazil in the national under 21’s women’s team. Cheri played for Liberia at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup and has since won an athlete scholarship to attend a USA college for four years. Katie Eyles played for Australia in the Edinburgh 2005 tournament and says the tournament helped to turn her life around:
“It’s really cool to see more women getting involved with football. There were only a few women competing in Edinburgh, so it’s great to know that more and more women are going to take part in this amazing experience,” she said.
In addition to the football tournament, the women will also enjoy a workshop program including football coaching, leadership development and an opportunity for teams to showcase their project idea to win a 5,000 Euro award from Women Win.
Founder and Executive Director of Women Win, Ms Astrid Aafjes said: “The Women’s Cup is a strong, positive, international event that puts homeless women on the agenda: “Homeless World Cup and Women Win share mutual values and goals using sport as an empowerment strategy for homeless and disadvantage girls and women worldwide. By working together we can further raise awareness and have a greater impact.
“Through the 5,000 Euro award, one of the eight women’s teams and their organisations will be able to further develop their programs for homeless women through sport in their community, and benefit from sharing their experiences with other Women Win program partners.”
The Women’s Homeless World Cup introduces a new opportunity for sponsors to get involved with this positive, powerful message for Australia and the world and play a key role in making this happen. Interested parties should contact Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup on +44 (0)131 561 1796.
To make a donation to the Women’s Homeless World Cup visit www.globalgiving.com/womenscup
For more information visit www.homelessworldcup.org
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For case studies, interviews and further information, please contact:
Sandra Del Monaco
Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup
03 9658 9939
0438 844 328
sdmonaco@bigissue.org.au
Kat Byles
Communications & Media Director
Homeless World Cup
+44 (0)7901 701 334
kat@homelessworldcup.org
Notes to Editors
About Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup is a world-class international football tournament that has triggered and supports grass roots football programs in over 60 nations engaging 30,000 players who are homeless all year round.
The Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup on December 1-7, 2008, is the sixth annual Homeless World Cup and will be the largest tournament ever, including the first Women’s Cup.
Research consistently demonstrates that over 70 per cent of players experience a significant life change. They come off drugs and alcohol, move into homes, jobs and education, training, repair relationships and even become coaches and players.
Founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young Melbourne 2008 is hosted by The Big Issue and supported by UEFA, Nike, Vodafone Group Foundation, Victorian Government, City of Melbourne, Goldman Sachs JBWere, BHP Billiton, Jo-Anne and Greg Beirne, Macquarie Group Foundation, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand.
About Women Win
Women Win is a non profit organisation that advocates for and funds organisations that are using sport and physical activity as a strategy for empowering disadvantaged girls and women worldwide. Women Win believes that through participating in sport, women can become strong and confident leaders, take public space and break stereotypes of what women can and should do, and become more in control of their own development, improving their lives and lives in their communities. For more information visit: www.womenwin.org.
