MADRID, Spain: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has appointed Brazilian footballer and Real Madrid star, Vinicius Junior as its “goodwill ambassador for education.
According to the UNESCO, on Friday, Director-General UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, appointed Brazilian footballer Vinícius Junior as Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All. A ceremony in this regard was held at the Real Madrid training centre.
UNESCO’s DG visited Ciudad Real Madrid Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid’s training centre, to officially present Vinícius Junior with his letter of appointment as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Vinícius Junior is not only an exceptional football player, he has also been a committed advocate for equal opportunity through education in Brazil. UNESCO said he is a role model for an entire generation, and UNESCO is honoured to count him among its Goodwill Ambassadors.
The Brazil and Real Madrid sensation has made a name for himself in recent years by supporting access to education for all young people. In 2021, he founded the Instituto Viní.Jr. to help Brazilian children and teenagers from disadvantaged neighbourhoods get back to school. The institute draws on the values of sport to inspire students from all backgrounds to learn and further their education.
Being appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador at just 23 years old is more than an honour, it's an achievement and a duty which I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Of course, I want to be recognized as a great player, but also as a citizen who tried to make a difference.… pic.twitter.com/DxHFYah3kh
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) February 2, 2024
This fight for inclusion and against discrimination is particularly important for Vinícius Junior, who has been confronted with prejudice and racism on many occasions, especially from fans. He has worked with FIFA and Brazil to break the silence and promote the values of respect and dialogue, as evidenced by his participation in the “Racism, Don’t Pretend You Can’t See It” campaign. Vinícius Junior’s commitment to social justice earned him the 2023 Socrates Award, presented at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Vinícius Junior’s responsibilities will include speaking at UNESCO international conferences for member states and the general public, and supporting the organization’s educational programs around the world.
UNESCO estimates that 250 million children and adolescents currently do not have access to school today – a number that will increase by 6 million by 2021. In addition, seven out of ten children are unable to read and understand simple text by the age of 10. inequality is one of the main factors behind early school leaving rates and under-learning.
It is the second time in the history of UNESCO that a Brazilian footballer has been named a goodwill ambassador. Vinícius Junior’s predecessor in this role was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as “Pelé”.
