Yet, in certain parts of the world, children strive to protect even their most innocent rights, overshadowed by war, poverty, and migration. Still, the happiness seen on their faces as they run after a ball shines like light streaming through the darkness.
And today, on 20 November, World Children’s Day, a torn jersey displayed in a glass case in the Mondo Milan Museum at Casa Milan, represents not only the football team a child supports, but also a life that firmly embraces the right to play.
A Story that Began on the Banks of the Nile
In 2021, while working in South Sudan, war photographer Jan Grarup came across a scene that depicted this very right of children.
Among the children playing along the Nile, one stood out, wearing a red and black AC Milan jersey that was torn in many places, but worn proudly.
The jersey was almost unrecognizable:
It was torn from the shoulders to the chest, stitched up many times with thick thread, and its color faded from the sun and mud.
Yet, the joy on the child’s face wearing the jersey remained unwavering.
Grarup would later describe that moment:
“Immediately when I saw the jersey, it became a piece of art. It is about life, it’s about survival, the love of football, and actually trying to keep something he was cherishing very much alive”.
The Story of an Exchange
When Grarup spoke with the child, he discovered that the torn jersey was his only real football jersey.
How it had arrived in the village was unknown, but the child’s attachment to it was quite obvious.
The photographer told him that he would give him a new Milan jersey and provide aid to his family, and in return, he would like to have the torn jersey.
At first, the child was surprised; he couldn’t understand why anyone would want such a worn- out jersey.
But eventually, he accepted the offer.
The new jersey and aid arrived shortly, while the torn jersey made its way back to Europe in Grarup’s bag.
Once the photographs were released, they sparked great interest in Italy, and the Milan community began talking about this story
AC Milan and the Club’s charitable foundation, Fondazione Milan, did not allow this story to remain just a single photograph.
They initiated a solidarity project in collaboration with UNICEF to support children in South Sudan.
The torn jersey became a symbol of this collaboration, serving as a universal reminder of a child’s right to play amid the hardships of war.
A Silent Witness at Casa Milan
On 16 December 2021, on the Club’s 122nd anniversary, the jersey went on display in the Mondo Milan Museum at Casa Milan.
This jersey did not shine like any of the trophies in the museum; on the contrary, it stood out with its worn appearance.
Everyone standing in front of the display case felt the same thing:
This jersey was not just a story about football, it was a silent witness to a child’s bond with play as he struggled to survive.
AC Milan has described the jersey in three words:
Belonging, dedication, and passion.
And perhaps a fourth word should have been included:
Rights.
The right of children to play…
ASAM’s Long-Standing Commitment to Children
This story reminds us that even though geographies can change, the needs of children remain the same. It is precisely at this point that the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM), which has touched the lives of thousands of children in Türkiye over the years, comes into play.
Working for the rights of children affected by war, forced migration, and poverty, and striving to uphold their rights to play, access education, grow up in a secure environment, and make their voices heard, ASAM establishes child-friendly spaces, provides psychosocial support, and develops projects to protect the rights of children across a large area, from Hatay to Van and from İzmir to Ankara.
From the hope emanating from a box of crayons to the juggling of a soccer ball… ASAM’s activities give voice to the trust, joy, and solidarity rekindled in the lives of children.
It reminds us that children’s rights are not just words on a paper; they are a responsibility that must be safeguarded every day.
Note: The child’s identity, location, and personal information have been kept confidential to ensure their safety.
