A campaign that organisers say aims to ensure that 72 million children worldwide have a chance to go to school is gathering steam, with nearly six million people having signed up in support. (Pictured: Children in class)
The 1 Goal Campaign hopes to use the power of football ahead of the World Cup in South Africa this year to put pressure on world leaders to fulfill their promises on education.
In 2000 world leaders promised an education for every child on the planet. We are looking to them to fulfill that promise, one of the campaign coordinators, Martin Davies told SW Radio Africa.
Today, 72 million children in the world are denied the chance to go to school. These children could be our next leaders, sports stars, doctors, and innovators. But, unable to read or write, they face an unfulfilled life, and a lifetime fraught with poverty. It doesnt have to be this way. With the FIFA World Cup taking place in Africa for the first time, the 1 Goal Campaign says this presents a unique opportunity for them to make education for all a lasting legacy of the tournament.
Several footballers and music stars have signed up as ambassadors for the project, including Colombian pop star Shakira, French football legend Zinedine Zidane, Thiery Henry, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo and Ghanas Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, among others. Key campaign moments for the project will include a June 10th concert that is expected to have a global audience of 1 billion people and a global education summit involving world leaders invited by South African President Jacob Zuma. The campaign will also be prominent at the opening and closing matches of the World Cup.
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