As the charity say themselves, most people believe that organising a world sporting event involving vulnerable children from the street on many different continents, often without a birth certificate and passport, would be impossible!
Not for Street Child United. They have led world cups all over the globe including Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and now Cambridge & London. They have overcome so many obstacles for the sole purposes of giving street children a voice and a chance to represent their country.
The carnival atmosphere created in Cambridge was a true reflection of the coming together of children with only street life to bind them. The overwhelming sense of compassion was emphasised by sheer number of embraces shared between these children who had been total strangers just days earlier.
For Northamptonshire CCC it was fantastic to be able to contribute to the festival and provide a new experience for the participants and some memorable photos, with our mascot Steeler, for them to hold on to as they return home.
Heading to Lord’s for the final’s day was fantastic and each of the competing teams got to play on the outfield of the main pitch. A special experience for anyone, let alone a cricketer representing their country.
England lost to India South in the final and ex-Northamptonshire and England test cricketer Monty Panesar was on-site to deliver the medals in the world-famous Long Room.
After the celebrations the opportunity was given to the children to explain their own story and ask for their basic human rights as national citizens of their respective countries and for opportunities and education to break the cycle and ensure a future away from the streets.
A truly inspiring and humbling event and one that we as a club are proud to have and will continue to support.