Director of LEEDO with television presenter Konnie Huq launch the Make a Difference Sports Fund

A coalition of supporters came together at the Hason Raja Centre in Whitechapel in East London on Saturday 11th July to welcome Forhad Hussain, director of LEEDO, on a programmed visit to highlight the cause of street children of Dhaka. The British-Bangladeshi TV presenter and children’s book author Konnie Huq was present to launch the Make a Difference Sports Fund.

On a sweltering hot day, supporters listened to Konnie Huq’s advice on the importance of reading, on taking up sports and rising inequality in society. Iqbal Hussain of Vallance Community Trust arrived with their young sportsmen and told us about their vital sports programme for inner city children, with Razna Al-faradhi from Roots of Wellness on their grassroots community activities at the Hason Raja Centre that give growing families the chance to undertake extracurricular activities. Recently-elected Spitalfields & Banglatown Councillor Faysal Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Life Chances at Tower Hamlets Council spoke about the local Council’s initiative to help children face life challenges. Friends of Street Children Bangladesh (FSCBD) supporter Belal Bahkt shared his memorable visit to Bangladesh to meet the children at LEEDO Peace Home. The street children joined live online from Dhaka to share how sporting activities have helped each of them on their journey. The award-winning and touching film Where the Kids Have No Name (Director: Jamillah van der Hulst) was screened, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

FSCBD Trustees Mike Sherriff, Tony Stevens, Auvee Rahman, Momotaz Rahim, Sophie Doran and Saif Osmani spoke about their 10th year coming up next year, and key achievements to date, including the children’s participation in the International Street Child Cricket World Cup and Football World Cup. Konnie Huq kindly signed copies of her bi-lingual (English and Bangla) book called Cookie!, which has already been snapped up by a potential buyer, with all proceeds going towards the new Sports Fund.

The Make a Difference Sports Fund aims to raise funds to provide opportunities for street children to partake in personal sporting challenges, to help break the societal stigmas surrounding being street-connected, and to raise their confidence. The fund is supported by the charity’s patron Hamza Chowdhury, footballer at Leicester City.

Visitors were able to buy handmade goods made by disabled street children, and Kantha cotton bed covers from Sylhet, with all proceeds going towards education activities and the new Sports Fund.

You can make a donation to the Make a Difference Sports Fund via: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/make-a-difference-sports-fund

Special thanks to the FSCBD Trustees and the wider supporters who helped make the event a success.