Lesson plan; The Power of Sports in Overcoming Adversity

The homeless Word cup

The Homeless World Cup is an inspiring global football tournament that aims to tackle homelessness through the power of sport. It’s an annual event organized by the Homeless World Cup Foundation, a social organization that advocates for ending homelessness using association football as a catalyst for change.  The Homeless World Cup Foundation is committed to recognising the human rights outlined in the International Bill of Human Rights and also the goals of the Paris Climate Change agreement, and specifically the outline of the United Nations Global Climate Action. The Homeless World Cup Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland.  Source: Thehomelssworldcup.

Objective: To explore the themes of homelessness, addiction, and redemption as depicted in “The Beautiful Game” and the real-life impact of the Homeless World Cup Tournament.

Grade Level: High School (Adaptable for Middle School)

Subject Areas: English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education

Introduction:

• To start the conversation, we could talk about homelessness and how society views it.
• Use examples from your own community
• Facilitate a discussion on the potential of sports to unite people and drive positive change.
• Introduce the concept of the Homeless World Cup tournament.

Homelessness is a complex issue that affects many people around the world. Unfortunately, it is often stigmatized by society, and those experiencing homelessness are often seen as lazy, unproductive, or even dangerous. This perception is not only unfair but also inaccurate. Homelessness can happen to anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. It is important to understand the root causes of homelessness and to work towards finding solutions that are both compassionate and effective.

Here are some key points about the Homeless World Cup:

• Founded in 1999, the tournament brings together teams of homeless people from various countries to compete.
• It includes a unique set of rules and a 4-a-side format, with squads of 8 and rolling substitutions, making it a tournament unlike any other.
• The event not only focuses on football but also on changing lives and shaping attitudes towards homelessness globally².
• The next tournament will be held at Hanyang University in South Korea.

• Over 100 million people are homeless worldwide, with the figure rising in many countries since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• But homelessness is not inevitable — successful programmes worldwide demonstrate how to reduce the number of people who lack secure accommodation.
• Among them is the Homeless World Cup, which has inspired a Netflix film. Source: World Economic Forum

The Beautiful Game is a fictional movie about the very real Homeless World Cup Tournament, which has brought together hundreds of people for a soccer tournament for two decades. Starring Bill Nighy as a grieving widower who throws himself into coaching to gain meaning from his life, the film, out March 29, aims to kickstart awareness about the real tournament and change viewers’ perceptions of the homeless and people in recovery. Source: Time

The dreamers

In the movie one of the characters describes herself as a dreamer. What is a dramer? Look for info her.

• Dreamers are immigrant youths who were brought to the U.S. as minors and remain undocumented¹. The term “Dreamers” comes from the DREAM Act, a bill that aimed to grant legal status to young immigrants residing in the U.S. unlawfully after being brought in by their parents².
• A Texas federal judge, Andrew Hanen, found the revised Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) policy, which shields thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, illegal¹. This ruling has left many DACA recipients in limbo about their future in America¹. The Guardian
• The Biden administration expressed disappointment at this ruling and continues to support the DACA program¹².
• Despite the legal challenges, DACA has granted relief to more than 600,000 undocumented young adults, allowing them to live and work lawfully in the U.S¹

See more info and lesson plan on the topic here. Spare parts.

Watch the movie, see clip here. 

Discussion 

• Lead a discussion on the movie, focusing on the following questions:
  • What were your initial thoughts and reactions to the movie?
  • How does the movie depict the challenges homeless individuals face and those in recovery?
  • In what ways do soccer and the Homeless World Cup impact the characters’ lives?
  • How does the movie illustrate the transformative power of sports?
  • What messages does the movie convey about resilience, hope, and personal growth?
  • Discuss the stories of participants like Lisa Wrightsman and Angela Draws.
  • Explore the broader impact of sports in promoting social inclusion, empowerment, and community-building.

Personal Transformation

• Instructions: Choose one character from “The Beautiful Game” and write a journal entry from their perspective, detailing their transformation journey. Consider their life before and after participating in the Homeless World Cup. Example:  Lisa Wrightsman’s story and her journey from addiction to coaching.

Further group tasks

1. Conduct a research project on the history and impact of the Homeless World Cup tournament. Explore its founding principles, key milestones, and notable success stories of participants.

Essay questions

1. Write an essay analyzing the different elements in the movie that contributed to the character’s personal growth. Consider the role of community, support systems, and the sport itself.
2. Analyze the current situation of Dreamers in the U.S., discussing the impact of legal decisions such as the ruling by Texas federal judge Andrew Hanen on the DACA policy. How has the Biden administration responded to these challenges? Discuss the role of DACA in providing relief to undocumented young adults. Finally, evaluate the potential impact of the bipartisan Dream Act introduced in the Senate in 2021. What are the implications for the nearly 3 million Dreamers who could have benefited from it?
3. Discuss the significance of the Homeless World Cup tournament in addressing societal perceptions of homelessness and addiction, drawing examples from both real-life stories and fictional portrayals in “The Beautiful Game.”
4. Analyze the role of sports, particularly football, as a tool for personal transformation and social change, using examples from the movie and the Homeless World Cup tournament to support your argument.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of media representations, such as films like “The Beautiful Game,” in raising awareness and changing public attitudes towards homelessness and addiction. Consider the potential impact of storytelling and visual narratives on fostering empathy and understanding.

Please discuss the issue of homelessness and how it is perceived by society.