 “Football for Life: Bringing Hope to China’s Migrant Children”
“Under the same blue sky, grow up and progress together”
– A sentence Premier Wen Jiabao wrote on a blackboard when he visited a school for migrant children in Beijing in 2003.
Which new sports program is bringing hope and opportunitites to underprivileged children in China?
What are the difficulties migrant children in China face?
“Football For Life" (FFL), a joint program run by CAI and ClubFootball is a brand-new football coaching initiative in China which has now kicked off and is empowering Chinese youths to reach their potential in life. FFL brings alive the vision of grassroots soccer as a force for good in the lives of children negatively affected by internal migration.
FFL's mission is to establish as many high-quality values-oriented football coaching programmes in schools serving the communities of migrant labourers as possible. The simple desire is to bring happiness and joy to children who have endured so much, so young…… The main focus is China’s migrant children.
The Migrant Children Issue:
In the midst of China’s rapid economic development, great disparities are occurring and an internal “floating” population are slipping through the gaps. Annually, millions of China’s rural workers move from the countryside to the major cities to seek a new life. The number of surplus rural workers is estimated to be between 100 million and 150 million and growing.
Migrant families often face two choices which ultimately lead to a host of social issues; take their children with them or leave them in the care of others which results in a lack of communication over a prolonged period. Ultimately, up to 58 million children are left behind while nearly 19 million children make the journey with their parents. Migrant youths end up facing discrimination, social and cultural marginalization, inadequate educational facilities and limited opportunities to rise in society.
Temporary work permits (Hukou) are often required for migrants to gain ‘official’ status which allows them greater job security and educational opportunities for their children; millions never receive these permits and thus are denied the chance to properly school their children. In some migrant communities, only 20 to 30% of children attend school; those whom attend school often go to sub-standard schools where eventual qualifications are not even recognized.
There are many well meaning organizations and individuals who are looking to provide Chinese migrant children with greater opportunities. FFL is one such program. Here, qualified coaches teach football and life skills in a fun, bilingual environment, offering students both healthy exercise routines and an enjoyable, educational experience. FFL is designed to support two identified groups:
- The children of migrant laborers who have been uprooted from their homes as their parents have moved from the rural countryside into the major cities of China to seek work. Such children continue to suffer from limited access to quality education & government services.
- Children who have been left behind in the rural countryside when their parents move to the major cities. Studies show that a large percentage of these children perform poorly in schools citing poor social support, poor economic background, lack of familial support, and low motivation levels as key reasons.
The initial FFL pilot project launched recently in a migrant children's school in Dongba, Beijing, and involved 160 children. With the support of partners, sponsors & media partners, FFL seeks to positively impact thousands of children in Beijing, Tianjin and beyond by providing regular high-quality, sports activities to form a vital part in each child's educational development.
For migrant children, FFL will provide them the chance to make new friends, do some exercise, learn as well as enjoy a sense of community. Most importantly, it will help them grow in confidence and become more self assured of themselves and their identity.
Football for Life is looking for sponsorship and volunteers to help, for more information, please email: info@cai-china.org or pr@wanguoqunxing.com
About CAI:
CAI is a program funded and supported by its parent entity, the Promise Foundation, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity. CAI programs target the under-served communities of migrant laborer children in China through arts and sports programs, character development activities, and teacher training programs in rural schools. The mission of CAI and the Promise Foundation is to transform and empower underprivileged youth in China through the Four C's:
Confidence: I can do anything, Courage: I am not afraid to try, Commitment: I will keep trying and Care: I respect others, and I respect myself!
China ClubFootball:
Established in August 2001, China ClubFootball FC Limited (Wanguo Qunxing Zuqiu Julebu) is Beijing's first joint venture football club. ClubFootball's mission is to inspire, educate and energise China's football enthusiasts - making them truly feel part of the global football community, and establishing a sense of ownership and passion for the game that has been absent for too long!
Please visit our "i3's LISTINGS PAGE" where you can send us your youth-relevant announcements or information, check it out ...
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