3 min.
On June 20, for World Refugee Day 2013, promoted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the Fondazione Mondo Digitale presents the fourth edition of its “I Am There” football match. The tournament starts with the youngest footballers competing for the “I Am There” Trophy, followed by a match between Centro Enea guests and Roman students. Radio Roma Capital will cover the match live, while the day will be opened with a message from Integration Minister Cécile Kyenge.
On Thurday June 20, 2013 at 5 pm, the Centro Sportivo Santa Maria in Rome (via Matteo Boiardo 28) will host the solidairyt “I Am There” football match promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale to celebrate World Refugee Day, an annual appointment designated by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
“This day, which is significantly called ‘I Am There’, is a way of making forced migrants visible, affirming both their presence and their will to interact positively with Italian society,” declared Integration Minister Kyenge.
The initiative is addressed to the young immigrants at the Centro Enea Reception Centre in Rome, schools and football associations. Following the musical notes played by the BlindSmoke Suburban orchestra, the young students from three football associations - Santa Maria-Visnova, Esquillino Football Club and Polisportiva Quadraro Cinecittà - faced off in a three-way meet for the I Am There Trophy. The object is to raise awareness on the issue of integration. After the three-way meet, a match was held between Roman students and the guests of the Enea Centre. The match as refereed by an official umpire from the Italian Referee Association. The media partner for the initiative, Radio Roma Capitale, covered the match. The Free Nantes Football Club, the first team composed entirely of forced migrants, was amongst the supporters together with Shoot for Change a platform uniting the initiatives of photographers, artists and designers contributing to improving people’s lives and the Ennequadro Foto Association.
Theevent also provided a perfect opportunity for meeting with some of the excellent guests at the Centro Enea who recounted their integration story. Watch the video coverage of the event.
The UNHCR World Refugee Day aims to invite the public to reflect on the millions of refugees that have been separated from their dear ones on account of wars and violence and the difficult choices that they have been forced to make in search of safety.
“In one minute, a family can lose everything. All you need is one minute to help them.” This is the message of the UNHCR.
