04-06-06
Press release for forthcoming project to bring Iraqi children from Sadir City to London to play football with London children in an exchange of culture and sport.
Press release for forthcoming project to bring Iraqi children from Sadir City to London to play football with London children in an exchange of culture and sport.
A non-profit scheme is being set up to bring Iraqi children from Sadir City in Iraq to the United Kingdom to play football.
The scheme, devised by Sadiq Nour and supported by David Cozens, is set to bring up to 17 children aged 10 to 12-years-old from the war-torn city in mid-July, during the heart of the 2006 World Cup.
Baghdad-born Nour is a FA accredited international football coach and has worked with children in UK schools and football clubs since 2004.
Cozens is the president of the City of London Society of Cogers debating club, a member of the European Creative Forum and London Social Forum.
“Sadir City is the poorest part of Iraq,” Cozens said. “It has been devastated by the war and devastated under Saddam Hussein. And we want to take kids from these council estates in Iraq and get them to play football with kids from council estates in London.
“Just that. Kids. No politics. Just kids meeting kids and having a good ol’ game of football.”
Cozens added the main point of the project is to leave the children to it. Let them, as children do, make up their own minds about each other and learn that, despite the war, different cultures and everyday influences, they are all the same, hold the same hopes and have the same dreams.
“They are ordinary people,” Cozens said. “You get them from Sadir City or Hackney, you get them playing football - they are the same kids.”
The project is still in its infancy and assurances of accommodation and food have been guaranteed. Donation of a bus is nearly secured and training grounds that are free for children have been located, but so far no assistance has been given on the later issue.
But time is of the essence. Donations and support to pay for the children’s airfare is needed by July. The program will run on a non-profit basis. Any profit will be pulled back into the scheme to pay for the future visits of Iraqi children.
“I am doing this because I believe our generation cannot understand each other,” Sadiq said. “This project will get the next generation together and help to understand each other's cultures. And football is a great way to do this.”
“This can do a lot of good,” Cozens said. “This can build a lot of bridges. This can solve a lot of problems.
“We all know we are over in Iraq. But the vast majority of us really support these projects. Ordinary people in this country really do care. And they would gladly support something like this. That would take some of the bitterness out of the pill at the moment, for all of us.”
For more information please contact:
Sadiq Nour: 07949 354259
David Cozens: 07986 465552
The scheme, devised by Sadiq Nour and supported by David Cozens, is set to bring up to 17 children aged 10 to 12-years-old from the war-torn city in mid-July, during the heart of the 2006 World Cup.
Baghdad-born Nour is a FA accredited international football coach and has worked with children in UK schools and football clubs since 2004.
Cozens is the president of the City of London Society of Cogers debating club, a member of the European Creative Forum and London Social Forum.
“Sadir City is the poorest part of Iraq,” Cozens said. “It has been devastated by the war and devastated under Saddam Hussein. And we want to take kids from these council estates in Iraq and get them to play football with kids from council estates in London.
“Just that. Kids. No politics. Just kids meeting kids and having a good ol’ game of football.”
Cozens added the main point of the project is to leave the children to it. Let them, as children do, make up their own minds about each other and learn that, despite the war, different cultures and everyday influences, they are all the same, hold the same hopes and have the same dreams.
“They are ordinary people,” Cozens said. “You get them from Sadir City or Hackney, you get them playing football - they are the same kids.”
The project is still in its infancy and assurances of accommodation and food have been guaranteed. Donation of a bus is nearly secured and training grounds that are free for children have been located, but so far no assistance has been given on the later issue.
But time is of the essence. Donations and support to pay for the children’s airfare is needed by July. The program will run on a non-profit basis. Any profit will be pulled back into the scheme to pay for the future visits of Iraqi children.
“I am doing this because I believe our generation cannot understand each other,” Sadiq said. “This project will get the next generation together and help to understand each other's cultures. And football is a great way to do this.”
“This can do a lot of good,” Cozens said. “This can build a lot of bridges. This can solve a lot of problems.
“We all know we are over in Iraq. But the vast majority of us really support these projects. Ordinary people in this country really do care. And they would gladly support something like this. That would take some of the bitterness out of the pill at the moment, for all of us.”
For more information please contact:
Sadiq Nour: 07949 354259
David Cozens: 07986 465552
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