Christian Aid’s line up: Our five-a-side team takes on the FIFA World Cup
Celebrating 2018 World Cup fever, from Christian Aid Global
Football madness has reached fever-pitch!
The 2018 Russia World Cup kicks off this week, with 32 teams from around the world competing for glory.
With over a month of football fever ahead of us, we’ve put together our own Christian Aid five-a-side team. From Brazil to Egypt, our team is made up of nations where we work to fight injustice, respond to humanitarian emergencies, and campaign for change.
Let’s take a look at the line up!
1. Goalkeeper
Egypt
This year will mark Egypt’s first World Cup finals appearance since 1990 — but don’t underestimate The Pharaohs’ steel-like defence.
The goalkeeper of our team, our work in Egypt similarly takes a stand from the back line to address resilience, employment and humanitarian needs.
Our programme aims to strengthen the resilience of Egyptians, their communities and institutions so they are better prepared and have a greater ability to respond when faced with threats to their lives, land and livelihoods.
We also aim to empower young men and women to have greater economic opportunities for a more just and secure future.
2. Defender
Colombia
While the Colombian football team have been praised for their attack, in our team they are the strongest defenders.
Christian Aid in Colombia works to build communities’ resilience by helping them claim their rights, particularly their right to land and territory.
We also help hold the state to account, make the state more responsive to civil society and actively protect human rights defenders, including local leaders.
3. Winger
Senegal
With talent to watch out for, this is only Senegal’s second World Cup.
Starting on the wing in our team, Senegal has an important role with a small but targeted programme as part of our humanitarian work across the Sahel region (including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso).
Our work includes helping some of the poorest farming communities increase their yields.
We also work to improve access to education, including literacy training for women and girls.
4. Midfielder
Nigeria
Nigeria has only missed one World Cup since its debut in 1994.
Playing in the midfield, our Nigeria programme is also just as consistent.
Working across a wide range of areas, Christian Aid Nigeria aims to empower poor and marginalised people to make informed decisions about their lives and engage meaningfully in their own development.
We work to improve health, increase government accountability and responsiveness, and improve gender equity and human rights.
5. Striker
Brazil
The ever-exciting Brazil has won the World Cup five times and is leading our team from the front as striker.
Christian Aid’s programme in Brazil is passionately fighting to reduce inequality and for access to land and territorial rights.
Our work also aims to foster gender, environmental and tax justice for a more sustainable and equitable country.
