Dear friends of Karanba!

Looking back at the year that has passed, I can't conclude in any other way than saying it's been a fantastic year for Karanba.

The things we have accoplished together, since the beginning of Karanba in 2006, has taken us quite far. It's still a long way to go, but we are on our way, and we are walking in the right direction. Together we have shown that everything is possible. We have shown through faith, dedicated work and love that children and youth can be given a possibility to have a better future.

To sum up 2011 and to put everything in perspective, we can look back to how things were in November and December 2010. We had lost our training field and our 70 players had to train everyday on Copacabana – the worlds most famous beach. My apartement still worked as the clubhouse.

Despite it being very challenging to practice when we only could use the beach, the year got a flying start when we participated on the Fjord1 Cup in Sogndal, Norway.

To win this tournament, which was in January, was like a fairytale, and looking back I can see that this was the beginning of the incredible progress we have had in the past year. I also remember Håvard Flos comment after the finals, which we won after extra time:

«When I see the joy expressed through the game, it was just fine that you won today.»

Both teams could have won, but I truly belive that the joy of football often is more strongly expressed in Karanba than in the teams we meet. And I belive just as stronlgy that it has an influence on our results.

Karanba is much more about human beeings and giving our participants possibilities, than it is about results. For me the ski race on Valle Hovin on a cold Norwegian winter day in January 2011 is one of my strongest Karanba memories.

I have always dreamed of getting a good structure in Karanba, and therefore it was a very important first step to get an office at Copacabana in April. Because of this, we could enploy people in administrativ positions. The prosess was started. Karanba had been bigger than I could handle by myself for a long time, and finally an administration was put in place to grow a better and more effective Karanba.

In May Karanba was invited by Tellus Works (which has made the television serie about Karanba for NRK) to the program Gullruten wich was sendt from Bergen. Gullruten proclaims the winners of the best Norwegian TV shows, and the serie about Karanba was nominated in the category of «Best soap dokumentary» and «Best new program». We didn't win eithe, but it was a great honor to be nominated.

Wednesday the 6th of July a handfull of Brazilians once again went on a trip to get to know the world. As usual we first went to Kristiansand in Norway, then Dana Cup in Denmark, Gothia Cup in Sweden and finally Norway Cup in Oslo. It's difficult to put into words what we experienced  during our journey, but there is no doubt that it creates sosial, cultural, academic and athletic development in our group.

This years trip was, as all of the other travellings we've had, very special. We also won all of the three tournaments. That's not what really matters for me, though it's extremely important to us. What will always be most important for me is the human aspect and how a big group like this can work toghether and stand firm in good and bad times.

The following is a perfect example of this:

After a dramatic game in the finals of Gothia Cup - that we ended up winning by penalties - Alaf (17) asked for permission to say something when we had our evening meeting. Alaf hadn't managed to play his best this game, like several other players, and he wanted to apologise for it. When the boy comes up to me crying, stands up in front of the group and starts to relieve his heart, it becomes a powerful moment. His very well-chosen words say something about a person who certainly understand what it's about:

«I want to ask for forgiveness for not playing my best, and by this setting everybodys dream in danger.»

He was of course hailed as the hero he is in the next seconds.

Believe me – it's powerful to experience moments like this in a group of people who in many ways are like a family. I am sure that moments like these sharpens a group which all the time has to perform, and that it sharpens the importance of beeing humble.

In Gothia Cup it was also made an documentary about us. The 45 minutes long film is about the pure and genuine values in football. I hope the documentary will be shown on Norwegian television in the near future.

Our three oldest participants, who were to old to play, but certainly deserved to travel had been invited to Alustar in Sandnes to learn how to put up scaffholding. A unique chance for the boys to learn something new and gain valuable experience, wich might help them to get a job – if they don't become professional players.

Back to normal life in Rio in August, the developing of Karanba continued. We put special emphasis on:

• Expanding the daily administration of Karanba in Brazil
• Starting up girls football
• Create opportunities for more of our participants
• Finding the next opportunities for our oldest participants
• Participate in Brazilian tournaments

Based on this it was with great pleasure and pride that we started our sixth season in October.

• Now we are 25 people working daily with Karanba.
• We currently have 450 participants, both girls and boys.
• Our goal is to have 1,000 daily participants by the end of February 2012.

We have taken over a football club in Sao Goncalo with three pitches and an office. After having renovated  the place it has now become the Karanba base. This gives us much better opportunities to include more and more girls and boys.

KKaranba has from September to December participated in the Brazilian tournament Copa Integracao, Copa ABS, Campeonato Goncalense, Copa Light and Copa Zico with very good results.

Several of our boys have also been noticed for their football skills. Darlan has got a professional contract with Serra Macaense FC.

One of our oldes participants, Vanderson (20), got on a flight to Qatar on the 8th of September (on his mother's birtday). He has since lived as a professional football player. At first it was hard, but getting a lot of support and scoring a goal in his professional debut, we can say that he's living everyone's dream.Before he left he said following:

«I go to war

For daily bread

My chest is filled with faith

And is my only guarantee

God delivers me from evil

And waits for me where I go

I'm doing my best

One day I will win!»

Vandersons twin brother, Jenderson, has started a SENAI-course in coporatin with Dream Learn Work. I really value this opportunity, knowing that few of our participants will become professional players. We hope and work for more such opportunities in 2012.

In the days between the 26th and the 30th of November were the most visible expositor at the world's biggest football and business event, Soccerex. It's difficult to put into words the extent of the exposure we got, but it's hard to imagine a better place for focusing on the core values of sports; hereunder how important it is to give children and youth who are given few opportunities in life an arena where they can grow and develop. We got a lot of good feedback from both Brazilian and international operators. Among the participants were FIFA, The English Premier League, FC Barcelona and Chelsea. After the event we recieved the following testimonial from Soccerex:

«Soccerex are delighted to have Karanba taking such a key role in the Soccerex Global Convention. Their work towards education and social progress through football is an inspiration to the industry and they are great people to work with.» - Duncan Revie, CEO

When Karanba gathered their participants for a Christmas party on Tuesday the 20th of December, we could look back on a particulary good year. Both Christmas and the year 2011 was celebrated well, in the famous Brazilian way.

I wish you all a Happy New Year! Thanks a lot for all your support and commitment!

Sincerly Tommy Nilsen and Karanba Norge

Karanba - A hope for all children and youth with a dream