Forever Families for South Africa

Forever Families for South Africa is a society for families in Sweden with children adopted from South Africa.

The society has three main purposes:

• to be a network for families in Sweden with children adopted from South Africa

• to support and co-operate in development projects in South Africa

• to work for deeper knowledge about South Africa for its members

For more information or contact with Forever Families for South Africa, please send us an e-mail.

Norway Cup

Forever Families for South Africa has decided to support the following project this spring: In July the tournament called “Norway cup” will take place in Norway, 30 000 players from 45 nations will participate (read more about the tournament on their website: www.norwaycup.no.)

It is common that one or more teams from poor areas in the world is invited for free. Sponsors and organizations cover their costs such as team clothes, accommodation, meals, activities etc during the tournament. Verdens Barn is an adoption organization in Norway that handles adoptions from South Africa. The organization also carries on development work in cooperation with “SA Cares for Life” (http://www.sacaresforlife.com/) in South Africa.

Verdens Barn has invited two teams with boys in the ages between 13-17 yrs to Norwegian Cup 2009. One team is from Mabopane outside Pretoria (Lesedi Strikers) and the other team is from Western Cape (Norsa Strikers). Accommodation, meals, travel in Norway, activities, pocket money for the kids and all other costs in Norway are covered by Verdens Barn, and they have already sent new soccer shoes and team clothes to the boys in South Africa. The challenge for the teams is the trip to Norway!

SA Cares for Life and Verdens Barn are now struggling to raise enough money to make it possible for those boys to travel to Norway, the cost is about R 15 000/player (15 000 SEK). Today they have money enough for eight tickets. For the moment every one who is involved both in South Africa and in Norway is doing everything they can to raise the money needed!  

A quotation from SA Cares for Life’s news letter in January 2009 gives us a good picture of how important this is for those children: 

”Looking at the faces of the children during practices and games, one can hardly believe the heartbreaking stories behind their smiles. Many of them are orphans and most of them have been directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS. They live in dire poverty, getting by with the least means. Their enthusiasm is truly inspirational. The soccer teams give them a place to belong and a place to forget about their daily struggles and have some fun. The soccer practices teach them soccer skills but they also build self-esteem and learn about team work. ” (http://www.sacaresforlife.com/UserFiles/File/newsletters/2009/'09%20-%20Walking%20with%20God.pdf )  

Apart from the joy and self-esteem that the team gives to every single player there is one more important angle, the team is very important to the areas the represent!  

The fund-raising has started, every single contribution is welcome!  

Our organization “Forever Families for South Africa” aim to sponsor at least one trip for one child! If you want to join us, please use our “plusgirokonto” 142 24 99-2 and mark the deposit with “Norway Cup”. 

If the teams for any reason does not manage to travel to Norway, all money will be used in the soccer projects driven by SA Cares for Life. But let us hope that we all together can make this dream come true for the kids!