December 1, 2008: The much-anticipated Football for Hope Festival South America 2008 is finally here!

Fifteen delegations from across South America and one delegation from South Africa came together in Santiago de Chile today to begin a week of intercultural activities and exchange as well as a three-day street football festival.

Bringing young people together through football
An official element of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008™, the Football for Hope Festival is a celebration of football’s power to foster social change.  Over 150 boys and girls from nine different countries have been making their way to Santiago to take part in the festival. For some the journey has been longer than for others: young people from the Ecuadorian organisations of Ser Paz and A Ganar spent over 80 hours travelling by coach along the South American highways to ensure they made it to Santiago on time.

Celebrating football in the centre of Santiago de Chile
With a team of around 40 local volunteers, activities will take place from December 1st to 7th at various locations around the Chilean capital city, starting today at the headquarters of the Chilean Professional Footballer’s Association (ANFP). The street football tournament will be played in sections of some of the city’s most prominent streets and squares, including the Plaza de la Constitución in front of the government building on December 3rd.

CHIGOL brings the festival to life
Supported by streetfootballworld, FIFA and the U-20 Local Organising Committee, streetfootballworld Network member and local organiser CHIGOL has been working hard over the past few months to put on a festival to remember. The organisation works in various locations across Chile to regain public spaces and enable youth development and social integration through its well established football activities.

The streetfootballworld website, www.streetfootballworld.org, will feature regular festival updates throughout the week, so don’t forget to check it out for all the latest news!