Charity helping Mumbai street children to work with UNICEF

H.S. Rao

London, Jul 6 (PTI) A charity engaged in improving the
lives of street children in Mumbai has been chosen to work
with the U.N.I.C.E.F. in India and Vietnam for developing such
kids' life skills through the medium of sports.
The charity 'Magic Bus' and U.N.I.C.E.F. plan to set up
several pilot projects in various Indian states and train
sports instructors and school teachers, the organisation's
Founder and Chairman, Matthew Spacie, MBE, said.
To start with, the programme would be extended to Delhi,
Andhra Pradesh and rural Maharashtra with the "ultimate aim
of involving 100,000 street children," Spacie, who quit Cox &
Kings as its Chief Operating Officer in India to set up the
charity in 1999, told PTI.
U.K. Sport, British government's international sports
agency, is also supporting the work of Magic Bus.
After winning the bid in Singapore to host the 2012
Olympics in London, the U.K. government had pledged to help
develop sports in five countries and one of them is India.
"As a result, Magic Bus has been chosen to work with
U.N.I.C.E.F. in India to expand Magic Bus' internationally
renowned programme across the country," Spacie said.
The Greater Mumbai Corporation has also chosen Magic Bus
to train teachers. "We plan to train 12 master trainers in
each city who in turn will train 200 trainers every year. Many
of the master trainers are selected by us and the government."
Magic Bus is implementing a sports project in Chattisgarh
also with U.N.I.C.E.F.'s assistance. "At the international
level, we are coaching master trainers in Vietnam," Spacie
said.
"Harnessing the power of sport to build self esteem,
confidence and vital life skills, Magic Bus works in India to
change the lives of children living on the streets and slums
of Mumbai - children involved in drugs, children in red light
district, orphans and rescued labourers."
"We have created a robust programme for children in the
age group of 7 and 16. At present Magic Bus has regular
5,000 children and a staff of 150," Spacie said.
Nisha Paul, Chairperson of the Event Committee of Magic
Bus, said "sport helps children to take control of their
future and provides them with positive role models - a far cry
from the drugs, gambling, violence and crime they are exposed
to on a daily basis.
"The Magic Bus ... creates a safe space for street and
slum children and a place for them to play and develop. It
doesn't discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, caste
or ability but responds to the need of the individual child
providing inspiration and hope for a better future."
Besides the U.K. Sports, the Magic Bus programme is
endorsed by Comic Relief, the Premier League and the England
and Wales Cricket Board. The Premier League is now entering
second year of its sponsorship, supporting the salaries of
Magic Bus football young community coaches.
Spacie has joined a panel of judges of Beyond Sport, a UK
initiative that recognises the work of Sport for Development
projects around the world. His fellow judges include former
British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had also visited
Magic Bus headquarters in Mumbai and praised its work.
Brown had said "international inspiration will use the
power of sport to transport the lives of millions of children
and young people in schools and communities in countries
across the globe."
The England cricket team members; Tessa Jowell,
Britain's minister for Olympics; and veteran Tennis player
Boris Becker have all visited Magic Bus' programme in Mumbai.
Nisha Paul, who is organising a Magic Bus Gala, its
annual event, here on October 16 at Dorchester Hotel said the
event has been fully booked and they planned to raise 120,000
pounds from the night for Magic Bus work in India.