The Three Languages We All Must Learn

At the Homeless World Cup, people of all colors, shapes, and sizes converge under different flags that represent different languages, political systems, ideologies, and religions. There are teams from 48 countries in six continents, some belonging to global superpowers whose flags have instant recall and recognition, others to little-known states that are still seeking recognition.

Despite these differences, everyone here knows three languages that have made the Homeless World Cup a symbol of one huge global village converging toward one goal: the language of sports, the language of music, and above all, the language of respect.

The transformative and uniting power of sports is the main reason why the Homeless World Cup was established. Its founder, globally acclaimed social entrepreneur Mel Young, recognized that sports—football, in particular—has the power to uplift spirits, rebuild broken lives, and create new paths for a better future. According to Homeless World Cup research, more than 94 percent of participants have said that being part of the Homeless World Cup has had a positive impact on their lives. Seventy-seven percent have made significant changes as a direct result of the program, coming off drugs and alcohol; moving in homes, jobs, and education; becoming coaches and players; repairing relationships; and becoming social entrepreneurs.

Even those who are not playing football and simply cheering on the stands are feeling the energy of unity and positivity permeating through the Arena Civica in Milan, Italy, where this year’s games are held. Through the power of music, people can cheer, sing, dance, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company without having to struggle with words and syntax.

Leading the global cheering squad is Paul Zialcita, a percussionist and performance artist from the Philippines. Using five-gallon water bottles (called “aquadrums”) and a large recycled trash can, he has been drumming not only for Team Philippines but for other teams as well, and teaching the players themselves how to use these drums so that teams can have their own built-in cheering section. Through this approach, footballers gamely take the bottles on and drum and cheer for other countries—even for those who will be or have been their opponents through the course of the games.

During the opening parade in the streets of Milan (Photo: Debbi Shaw)

John Marshall is a player for Team Scotland, and even while Scotland and the Philippines have already slugged it out on the pitch, John and his team were seen rooting for Team Philippines during the latter’s game with Australia. Alejandro Miranda, meanwhile, is a volunteer pitch manager who hails from Chile and lives in the United States. He was seen cheering for the Spanish football team, whom he regards as “the best team. They’re very kind, very respectful.”

Sports and music have been building bridges in a world where lines are drawn too strongly and too often. In an interview with football star Dariusz Dsziekanowski, formerly a player for Polish teams, he talked about the importance of bringing back respect at a time when life moves too fast for people to pay attention to one another.

“Respect—this word brings a huge message to the people,” he said. “Life moves very fast. Sometimes you miss the train and find yourself standing in the station wondering where all the time has gone, and nobody will care about you. It’s important that we bring back the simple things, like saying ‘Hello, how are you?’ ‘I respect you’, ‘I don’t judge you’, ‘I respect what you’re doing.’”

When it’s difficult to verbalize our feelings and expressions, especially in a setting such as this where the arena has become a melting pot of peoples and cultures, Darius recommends one very simple thing:

“Just respect and smile at each other.”

© FOTO UP AGENCY