'On Top of Ice': Zimbabwean Former Street Children Take Part in BRICS+ Cultural Festival in Russia
'On Top of Ice': Zimbabwean Former Street Children Take Part in BRICS+ Cultural Festival in Russia
Sputnik Africa
Last week, the second international sports and cultural festival, "We Are the World!" was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. The event was organized by the... 28.11.2024, Sputnik Africa
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival in St. Petersburg. The children, hailing from the Zimbabwean First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa Children's Home in Chiredzi, arrived in St. Petersburg on November 18 to participate in the event, organized by the regional executive committee of the Russian presidential organization People's Front.Providing details about the festival, Ekaterina Mashkova, head of the regional executive committee of the People's Front, told Sputnik Africa that the event was jointly proposed by the People's Front and the organizing committee of the BRICS+ Municipal Forum, adding that mini-football was chosen as the central sport due to its accessibility.Remarkably, the Zimbabwean team, despite language barriers, successfully engaged in the activities of the festival, which welcomed eight teams, including representatives from Zimbabwe, Belarus, and cities across Russia. The organizers even provided warm clothing for the children instead of the light jackets they had, mindful of the difference in weather compared to Zimbabwe.The children's experience extended beyond the field, encompassing a diverse cultural program that included masterclasses in boxing and sambo, factory tours, visits to the St. Petersburg SKA hockey arena, an oceanarium, the Hermitage Museum, and sightseeing tours of St. Petersburg.
Last week, the second international sports and cultural festival, "We Are the World!" was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. The event was organized by the People's Front, headed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. A total of about 100 children aged 10-11 from various Russian regions, as well as from Belarus and Zimbabwe, took part in the festival.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival in St. Petersburg. The children, hailing from the Zimbabwean First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa Children's Home in Chiredzi, arrived in St. Petersburg on November 18 to participate in the event, organized by the regional executive committee of the Russian presidential organization People's Front.
"The First Lady actually came to the airport, and we did have a very inspiring send-off from the First lady," Victor Muntanga, Zimbabwe's Official BRICS Forum Ambassador, told Sputnik Africa. "So, she gave us encouraging words to build friendships, to represent the country very well. And also, we had an escort, like a police escort, to the airport."
Providing details about the festival, Ekaterina Mashkova, head of the regional executive committee of the People's Front, told Sputnik Africa that the event was jointly proposed by the People's Front and the organizing committee of the BRICS+ Municipal Forum, adding that mini-football was chosen as the central sport due to its accessibility.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ten former street children from Zimbabwe have represented their nation at a BRICS+ international children's sports and cultural festival "We are the World!", held in November 2024 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Remarkably, the Zimbabwean team, despite language barriers, successfully engaged in the activities of the festival, which welcomed eight teams, including representatives from Zimbabwe, Belarus, and cities across Russia. The organizers even provided warm clothing for the children instead of the light jackets they had, mindful of the difference in weather compared to Zimbabwe.
"It was kind of difficult, like adjusting. But we came prepared, like in terms of having warm clothes. But our definition of warm clothes, it wasn't really warm, you know, for the Russian weather because as you know, Africa is very sunny, hence the name Africa. So, they have never really experienced extreme weather conditions, like this climate," Muntanga noted. "So as cold as it was the first day they saw the snow, they just wanted to, you know, to understand that 'are we really walking on top of this? You know, on top of ice'."
The children's experience extended beyond the field, encompassing a diverse cultural program that included masterclasses in boxing and sambo, factory tours, visits to the St. Petersburg SKA hockey arena, an oceanarium, the Hermitage Museum, and sightseeing tours of St. Petersburg.
