Café Diverso Publishers seems to eliminate many differences in the world by actually projecting one common interest for all. Football. Aside from providing football fans with attractive tales and interesting facts, Café Diverso also provides for the needy by donating 1 euro from the sale of every book — “Everyone Has A Good Story: Football” — to the UNESCO-endorsed and administered World Literacy Program. The donations will go specifically to schools for children in Egypt in order to provide educational opportunities to street and working children there. According to Killian McDermott, founder of Café Diverso, it is estimated that the number of children not attending school in Egypt (age group 8-14) is about 1.5 million. Thus the aim is to give these children better skills for life through the donations.
“Everyone Has a Good Story: Football” is dedicated to the 32 countries participating (competing) in the 2006 FIFA world cup in Germany. This book not only speaks of football as a game but also speaks of the lives, traditions, and different cultures of those who adore football and share a passion for the game. As McDermott, (identify her) said, “We explored the diversity in cultures around the world through a common theme, giving a glimpse into what football means to different people in different places.”
The stories in the book — be they fact or fiction — portray football as more than just a game. It is “bigger than twenty two players and ninety minutes” as one writer puts it. The stories here speak of people overcoming obstacles: children witnessing momentous events to cherish for a lifetime; communities gathered and joined for a match. This book contains stories that are so deep/moving that even those who are indifferent towards / about football will feel a sudden urge to wave their country’s flag and get their faces painted.
“Everyone Has A Good Story: Football” contains one story and one photograph from each participating country, so the stories in this book are as unique as the many different cultures and traditions the writers represent. Articles contributed include poetry from Down Under, golden wisdom from the Ivory Coast, and even a short history of football in Saudi Arabia and one of its first clubs.
Every story has a special flavor with a different twist, and every photograph tells a story of its own. The pictures displayed in the book show the beauty of football and the love of football by fans. As a football fanatic, I believe this book has scored a major “GOAL!”