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Methodist youth back Nicaragua street child campaign

By agency reporter
August 13, 2013

Three young people have been chosen to represent Methodist Children and Youth from the Church in Britain on a trip to Nicaragua in November 2013.

During the visit, Roxanne Bainbridge, Andrew Topping and Miriam Garnett will meet the girls and boys’ teams from Nicaragua who will be travelling to Rio next year to take part in the Street Child World Cup.

They will also visit local projects through Methodist World Church partners, and share the stories they hear with young people back in Britain.

Miriam Garnett, aged 19, who attends Trinity Church Abingdon in West Berkshire, England, said: “The Street Child World Cup project is fantastic as it offers these children an alternative to their lives on the streets, and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to it.

"My experience with working with young people has shown me what a difference it can make if someone invests their time in them and shows them that they can trust in themselves,” she added.

Street Child World Cup is a global movement for street children to receive the protection and opportunities that all children are entitled to. Ahead of each FIFA World Cup, the Street Child World Cup unites street children from across five continents to play football. The Methodist Church is supporting the event in partnership with the Amos Trust.

Andrew Topping, aged 18, is a member of Hucclecote Methodist Church in Gloucester. He said: “The issues that Nicaraguan street children face are disturbing; I have learned that one in every three is suffering from malnutrition. As a Christian I feel called to respond to this suffering in practical ways and also to challenge perceptions that we may have of street children.”

Methodist children and young people are encouraging local churches across the Connexion to help raise £30,000 by organising fundraising events of their own.

Roxanne Bainbridge, aged 17, said she would encourage her college to support the Street Child World Cup, run a session about the event at the Wales Synod and engage with social media to raise awareness about the issues.

[Ekk/3]

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