The first General Assembly of the streetfootballworld network took place in the Team Village of the Football for Hope Festival 2010.

Sixty representatives of streetfootballworld network members, several observers from various organisations, institutions and partners, as well as several streetfootballworld staff members took part in this 'second birth' of the network. The hall was packed with an attentive and concentrated crowd, which actively debated and discussed several topics that are essential to the network’s continued development.

streetfootballworld Managing Director Jürgen Griesbeck opened the General Assembly, which featured discussions around topics such as the structural development of the network, meeting regional needs, capacity building, investing in members and their programmes, promoting Development through Football worldwide, and relationships with partners.

The spirit of the network
Representatives lobbed questions and answers back and forth; sometimes the topics were controversial but they were always productive and discusssed in a friendly manner, in a true demonstration of the spirit of cooperation and sharing that unites the diverse membership of the network.

Said Jürgen of the day, which brought together representatives who were also taking part in the Football for Hope Festival: "With 60 delegates here, that means over 20 came to Johannesburg just to exercise their democratic right to vote and to participate in the strategic development of streetfootballworld.

"The way the General Assembly was conducted truly reflected the spirit of streetfootballworld. We share a vision, even controversial issues are addressed in a fair play manner, and it's the cause that unites us."

A new board
A central component of the meeting was the election of a new network board, which now consists of Charlie Gamble of Street League (UK), Steffi Biester of KICKFAIR (Germany), Gal Peleg of Mifalot (Israel), Kirk Friedrich of Grassroot Soccer (various African countries), and Adán Parreno of Mundo Afro (Uruguay). Including the postal votes, a total of 72 of 82 members elected the board.

"I'm very happy to be back on the board," said Gal, who represented The Peres Center for Peace from 2007 to 2009. "I really look forward to the challenges ahead."

The assembly also had its emotional and very personal moments, as some delegates and speakers addressed issues that were close to their hearts and minds. At the closing of the meeting, the pride and joy about being part of such a monumental day were palpable, as everyone continued discussions long after the meeting ended.