JERUSALEM, April 7, 2011 (WAFA) French football star Lilian Thuram will visit the occupied Palestinian territory on Monday in support of the education program funded by France through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Thursday said an UNRWA press release.
At the Qalandia refugee camp, Lilian will see first hand the realities of life for Palestinian children under Israeli occupation. After a brief tour, he’ll visit the local UNRWA school for a friendly match with some of the camp’s young footballers.
A delighted Thuram said the visit was about his own education as well as having fun with Palestinian children.
“I have heard so much about the children of Palestine and about the environment they grow up in. I need to see this for myself, interact with them and with luck, I will entertain and even inspire them,” he said.
Thuram made sporting history by becoming the most capped player in the history of the French national squad. He also played for top European clubs, Barcelona and Juventus. Off the pitch, he has dedicated much of his time and energy to the promotion of human rights and education against racism.
French Consul General, Frederic Desagneaux, said this visit put the spotlight on France’s long-standing support for UNRWA and its human development work.
“UNRWA has a long association with the Palestinian people and my government is proud to have worked so closely with UNRWA for so many years. Bringing Lilian here is a real joy for us, showing to Palestinians the sorts of sporting and human development they can also achieve,” he said.
Through its contributions to UNRWA’s regular budget, France supports education to some half a million children in the Agency’s five fields of operation (Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank). UNRWA also provides health, relief and social services to some of the most disadvantaged people in the Middle East. Last year alone France’s contribution to UNRWA stood at nearly USD 10 million of which USD 6 million supported core program activities.
“Lilian is a living football history”, said UNRWA spokesman, Chris Gunness. “It is brilliant that UNRWA school kids will have an opportunity to be coached by him and witness his extraordinary skills first hand. He is just the sort of role model our students should be inspired by and we are very grateful to the Palestinian Football Federation and the French government for facilitating his visit. At this time of turmoil, the stabilizing influence of UNRWA’s human development work with some of the most marginalized communities in the region has never been so important”, Gunness said.
M.A.
