The Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulaynamed this Friday the Brazilian footballer Vinícius Jr. as Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All, during a ceremony held at the Real Madrid training center.
Azoulay visited Real Madrid City Florentino Pérez, in Valdebebas, to officially present the Real Madrid striker with his letter of appointment as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“Vinícius is not only an exceptional footballer, he is also a man committed from a very young age in favor of equal opportunities through education in Brazil. He is a model for an entire generation, and UNESCO is honored to have him among its Goodwill Ambassadors,” Azoulay declared.
“Being named Goodwill Ambassador at the age of 23 is more than an honor, it is a victory and a duty that I will carry with me throughout my life. Of course, I want to be recognized as a great player, but also as a citizen who has tried to make a difference. I have been fighting for education since I was 19 years old., and my institute is developing little by little in Brazil. Thanks to the support of UNESCO, we are going to have a positive impact on the world,” said Vini Jr. himself.
In recent years, the merengue player has promoted access to education for all young people. In 2021, he created the Vini Jr. Institute to help Brazilian children and adolescents from disadvantaged neighborhoods return to school. “The Institute uses the values of sport to inspire students of all backgrounds to want to learn and continue their education,” UNESCO stressed in a press release.
“This fight for inclusion and against discrimination is especially important for Vinícius, who has faced prejudice and racist acts on numerous occasions, especially by fans. He has collaborated with FIFA and Brazil to break the silence and promote the values of respect and dialogue,” the note stated.
In this sense, UNESCO recalled Vini Jr.’s participation in the campaign ‘Racism, don’t pretend you don’t see it‘. “Vinícius’ social commitment earned him the 2023 Socrates Prize, which was awarded to him at the Ballon d’Or ceremony,” the press text indicated.
Thus, Azoulay made it his priority to promote education for all. “Among Vinícius’ functions include speaking at UNESCO’s international conferences, before Member States and the general public, and supporting the educational programs that the Organization carries out around the world,” the note stated.
UNESCO estimates that currently 250 million children and adolescents do not have access to school, a figure that has increased by 6 million since 2021. Furthermore, seven out of ten children cannot read or understand a simple text by the age of 10. “Social inequalities are one of the main factors of school dropout and lack of learning,” UNESCO added in its note.
It is the second time in UNESCO history that a Brazilian footballer has been named Goodwill Ambassador. Vinícius’s predecessor in this position was the legendary Edson Arantes do Nascimento, ‘Pelé’.
2024-02-02 20:38:45
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