Jean Claude Mbvoumin - France

Jean Claude Mbvoumin founded and presently runs the Association Culture Foot Solidaire (CFS or Soccer Culture Solidarity Association), which raises awareness about the fraudulent international recruitment of young soccer players from Africa. As a former soccer player recruited from Cameroon to play in France, Mr. Mbvoumin educates European leaders about the realities facing many child players recruited to Europe with false promises of success and riches. Often these African boys are paid a fraction of what was promised, have no legal immigration status, and are abandoned to the streets after they fail to meet recruiters' expectations. In 2007, CFS created a task force that brought together NGOs and government officials to discuss solutions for combating this situation, which leaves young African children potentially vulnerable to various forms of trafficking. Under Mr. Mbvoumin's leadership, CFS has also worked with the Federation of International Soccer Associations (FIFA) to change recruiting laws to better protect minors. Mr. Mbvoumin's innovative efforts have increased international awareness of this growing problem.