A 10-year-old footballer from Ealing who plays for Chelsea’s Under-16s has become a published author after writing an emotional story calling on football fans to reject racism and support players whatever the result.
Joylen Teixeira wrote Racism in Football after learning about the abuse directed at England stars Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho following the Euro 2020 final. Rather than getting angry, the young footballer decided to write a story encouraging supporters to remember that players are “human beings first”.
His story has now been professionally published in Our Stories Our World, the UK’s first nationally curated child-led anthology, created by eight-year-old Guinness World Record holder Jayce Joyce to encourage more children to read, write and share stories that matter to them.
With England now through to the World Cup semi-finals, Joylen hopes fans remember the lessons of 2021 if the tournament doesn’t end the way they hope.
“The World Cup brings people together,” said Joylen. “Everyone wants England to win, but football is only a game. Every player is trying their best and nobody deserves abuse because they make a mistake.
“Winning is amazing, but kindness is more important. I hope every player knows children like me are proud of them whatever happens.”
The young footballer, who proudly supports both England and his family’s homeland of Cape Verde, says football has always been about bringing people together. Cape Verde made history this summer by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup and reaching the knockout stages, making the tournament especially memorable for his family.
In his story Joylen writes: “Football is a beautiful sport. It brings people, communities and nations together.”
He adds: “Racism should be stopped, and people should come together in love and unity. Everybody deserves to be treated with respect and fairness.”
Joylen is one of 20 young authors featured in Our Stories Our World, a collection celebrating children’s creativity, diversity and inclusion. Released during the National Year of Reading, the anthology forms part of a campaign encouraging children to swap screen time for story time and discover the power of writing.
Jayce Joyce said: “Joylen’s story shows that children don’t just have incredible imaginations they also have important messages. Football should unite us, not divide us, and his words remind us that kindness is one of the greatest victories of all.”
CALLING ALL YOUNG STORYTELLERS
To build on the success of Our Stories Our World, Jayce has launched the Books from Children to Children Summer Writing Competition, inviting children across the UK to write an original story over the school holidays.
Winning entries will be professionally published in next year’s anthology, giving young writers the opportunity to become published authors while inspiring a new generation of readers, writers and future leaders.
Parents, teachers and carers are being encouraged to help children put down their devices, pick up a pen and discover where their imagination can take them this summer.
To find out more about the competition and entry process visit https://jaycesworldoflearning.co.uk/competition/
