International day for the street children is marked annually on the 12th April since 2011 to create awareness on the millions of street children in the world so their rights may not be ignored.
Koinonia Community in partnership with Amani and the MAECI project worked together in ensuring that street children in Nairobi have a remarkable day, through the Koinonia Street Kids Tournament. The past two weeks street children from different areas in Nairobi have been practicing twice per week for the ultimate final of the tournament that took place today at the Joseph Kang’ethe Community Centre in Woodley area, Nairobi County.
Eight different teams took part in the tournament; Adams, Mutindwa, Santiago, Van Couver, Anita Home, Majengo Base, Kawangware and Riverside in football and in the 100m race. Each team brought the A game and were all hopeful in winning, however the matches after the normal time play ended on a barren draw and had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The ultimate winner for the tournament for the boys’ side was Van Couver and on the girls side Anita carried the day. All the teams were awarded with jerseys and footballs that will enable them in their sports activities, winners were also given trophies for their hard work.
Through the tournament it has created an opportunity for street children to interact and bond with other children from different areas. This year will see the publication of the United Nation’s General Comment on children in the streets, which states that every child has rights regardless of their gender, ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, abilities or any other form of distinction. This will go a long way in giving guidelines to governments in ensuring street children’s rights are recognized.