Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, Saturday attended the Street Child World Cup’s General Assembly and signed the “Qatar Commitment” – a document giving young people the opportunity to present their voices to the world.
The General Assembly served as a conclusion to a series of child-friendly congress sessions held over the course of an eight-day event, which was hosted in partnership with Qatar Foundation (QF).
The congress sessions were a safe space for participants – 28 teams from 25 different countries – to talk openly about their life experiences, the rights that they are denied, and the changes that they want to see made in their communities and the world.
After exploring these issues, the participants came up with six different themes for this year’s Street Child World Cup: identity, health, education, poverty, protection, and gender equality. The teams were then placed in six groups to develop messages for each theme, and – at the General Assembly – expressed their demands through artwork, banners, songs, and dramatics.
Following the delivery of these messages, HE Sheikha Hind, alongside John Wroe, Founder and CEO of Street Child United, signed the “Qatar Commitment”. The document, which – crafted by 290 street-connected children, refugees, and young leaders – aims to remind nations of their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children are entitled to all rights, regardless of their circumstances.
HE Sheikha Hind said: “The Qatar Commitment – which has been created over the course of the Street Child World Cup 2022 – represents a powerful opportunity for the world to take action, and to become advocates for the rights of marginalised children.
“At Qatar Foundation, we believe that every single child has the potential to be a changemaker, to become leaders within their communities and beyond. By signing this document, we want to help break down barriers and challenge stigmas, and in doing so, ensure that street-connected children are being recognised, supported, included – and most importantly – given a voice.”
Alongside the congress sessions and General Assembly, the children participated in the Street Child World Cup 2022 football tournament at QF’s Oxygen Park in Education City, and a series of art workshops. This year marks the fourth edition of the event, which has taken place in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The General Assembly served as a conclusion to a series of child-friendly congress sessions held over the course of an eight-day event, which was hosted in partnership with Qatar Foundation (QF).
The congress sessions were a safe space for participants – 28 teams from 25 different countries – to talk openly about their life experiences, the rights that they are denied, and the changes that they want to see made in their communities and the world.
After exploring these issues, the participants came up with six different themes for this year’s Street Child World Cup: identity, health, education, poverty, protection, and gender equality. The teams were then placed in six groups to develop messages for each theme, and – at the General Assembly – expressed their demands through artwork, banners, songs, and dramatics.
Following the delivery of these messages, HE Sheikha Hind, alongside John Wroe, Founder and CEO of Street Child United, signed the “Qatar Commitment”. The document, which – crafted by 290 street-connected children, refugees, and young leaders – aims to remind nations of their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children are entitled to all rights, regardless of their circumstances.
HE Sheikha Hind said: “The Qatar Commitment – which has been created over the course of the Street Child World Cup 2022 – represents a powerful opportunity for the world to take action, and to become advocates for the rights of marginalised children.
“At Qatar Foundation, we believe that every single child has the potential to be a changemaker, to become leaders within their communities and beyond. By signing this document, we want to help break down barriers and challenge stigmas, and in doing so, ensure that street-connected children are being recognised, supported, included – and most importantly – given a voice.”
Alongside the congress sessions and General Assembly, the children participated in the Street Child World Cup 2022 football tournament at QF’s Oxygen Park in Education City, and a series of art workshops. This year marks the fourth edition of the event, which has taken place in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.