The newly formed War Child United has today launched its first limited-edition football shirt with a powerful message of support for young people suffering through conflict in the Central African Republic.
The shirt, designed by young people currently living in the conflict, leads with the message ‘Zo Kwe Zo’ which translates to ‘All People are People’. Representing more than just fabric and threads, the shirt’s launch encourages unity between those who designed it and those who wear it to raise awareness and support of War Child UK.
The unveiling of the limited-edition shirt - set to be the first of 14 in the War Child United series - arrives at a time when there has never been a more urgent need to come together. One in six children globally are living through conflict while, for the children in the Central African Republic, crises have been a constant over the past 10 years.
Models - Ché-Cassius Mason and Mahilya Lee Augustine from Hired Hands Models
Speaking on the shirt’s stunning design, it’s lead designer, David Louison Ningando, from Bangui, Central African Republic said: “Starting from the five colours of the flag, we have highlighted two colours, namely blue and white. In this way we wish to transmit a message of stability, forgiveness, peace, of a new Central Africa.”
The lion, meanwhile, is a cultural symbol that the designers identify with, and it is reflected in the claw running down the left side of the shirt.
Ongoing political insecurity has had considerable consequences for Central Africans, with children bearing the brunt. The presence of armed groups and the mass forced displacement of families due to increased violence and insecurity continue to place vulnerable children at risk of separation from their families, violence, sexual abuse, or recruitment into armed groups.
War Child UK invites ALL football fans to become part of War Child United, with the aim of demonstrating the power of the beautiful game in bringing people together to make a difference.
A game of football can help children express themselves, build their confidence, and better cope with and recover from the effects of war, with money raised from the sale of each shirt to support War Child’s vital work in the Central African Republic and around the world.
The first of the War Child United collection is produced by Kitlocker, who facilitate the Umbro brand license, with just 265 shirts available to purchase via Kitlocker.com.
