As this story from the UK Daily Record reveals, demanding a commitment to life change before being allowed to join a homeless-change program, works.
A very good thing.
An excerpt.
“IT is 10 years since Mel Young and his friend came up with the idea for the Homeless World Cup over a beer.
“They were looking for a way to bring together people from around the world and thought of using the international language of football.
“From the idea of a friendly bout between the homeless of Scotland and Mel's friend Harald Schmied's native Austria, it grew into a pioneering event.
“A total of 18 countries took part in the first competition in 2003.
“A Scotland team won the trophy in the Danish capital Copenhagen in 2007.
“Now the organisation has teams in 75 countries, with more than 30,000 people taking part in football training schemes and play-offs to reach this year's competition in Paris.
“Of those who have previously taken part, 97 per cent say the experience has had a positive impact on their life.
“Almost 80 per cent say they have made changes to their lives as a direct result of involvement. In Mexico, 4300 homeless men have applied to try out for this year's team.
“To qualify to take part, all they have to show is that they are committed to turning their lives around.”
About
- David H. Lukenbill
- I am a California native, married, we have one daughter and live close to the American River with two cats and all the wild critters we can feed. I am a management consultant to nonprofit organizations and have an Associates of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Sacramento City College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Public Administration degree, also from the University of San Francisco.