Eighty hours. That is how long it took the Ecuadorians to travel down to Santiago by bus. The trip was more than worthwhile however for the representatives of the Ser Paz and A Ganar organisations involved, as well as for the guest delegation from South Africa which flew all the way across the Atlantic. 12 other groups from far-flung corners of South America as well as a guest organisation from Costa Rica also took part in the 'Football For Hope Festival South America 2008', and the event, held in the Chilean capital between 1 and 7 December, was a resounding success.

Over 200 youngsters both male and female and between the ages of 15 and 21 took part in the event, held in parallel with the final week of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008. Exchanging experiences and intercultural dialogue were the main aims of this event which served as the central element of 'Football For Hope', the strategic alliance between FIFA and the streetfootballworld charitable organisation. Art and culture workshops brought participants closer together, and the culmination of the festival was an exciting and unusual street football tournament.

Gente Viva/Chigol from Chile were perfect hosts, and they certainly had one thing in common with all the other members of the streetfootballworld network and the various delegations who took part in this colourful and spectacular festival: they all belong to organisations that see football as a tool for furthering social development.

With FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke in attendance as well as Federico Addiechi, FIFA's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, and Jurgen Griesbeck, CEO of streetfootballworld, the 200 participants turned the week-long festival into an unforgettable community experience. The event brought thousands of spectators out to the three venues where the street football tournament was being held in Santiago, right at the time when the latter stages of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup were getting under way without a single South American representative.

Latin American flair
There were no limits to the football fever in the Chilean capital. With the final of the world's most prestigous women's youth tournament in the Estadio La Florida drawing ever closer, and with the US girls powering towards their ultimate victory, two teams from Brazil and Chile were carving their own paths through to a very different final.

It was not only goals that counted at the Football For Hope Festival South America 2008 street tournament. For three days, five-player teams made up of men and women battled it out - without a referee! The teams decided amongst themselves what the rules would be and once time was up, they got together to discuss how many extra points each team should receive above and beyond the goals scored, based on their behaviour on the pitch and how they treated their opponents.

Latin American sounds and rhythms dominated the tournament. Colourful flags, smiling faces and a clear blue Santiago sky were the backdrop for an event which united friends in an atmosphere of peace and respect, and which brought the magic and love of football to the fore on the Plaza de la Constitucion, in the Parque Forestal and in the impoverished Cerro Navia commune - the three locations where the street football tournament was held.

The final could not have turned out better had it been scripted. In a true demonstration of friendship and solidarity, the two finalists - Edugol from Chile and Eprocad from Brazil - wore each others' shirts and the match ended up going to a penalty shoot-out, which players from both sides watched arm in arm. The Brazilians ended up emerging victorious, but fans and players alike found it hard to classify either team as winners or losers on the day.

Indeed, there were only winners throughout the 'Football For Hope Festival South America 2008', and as they journeyed home, the various delegations could look back on the incredible experiences and new friendships that they had made in Santiago. Sometimes an 80-hour bus journey can have its advantages.