Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said, “We see this partnership with Unicef as a great opportunity for Soccerex to contribute towards a real legacy during our time in South Africa. Everyone knows the power of football to reach into the hearts and minds of young people, especially here in South Africa, and this partnership will not only facilitate that but will also offer direct encouragement to other companies
looking for relevant opportunities for their own corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.”

Unicef has pledged its support to improve the conditions of 585 of the most vulnerable schools in South Africa, identified by the National Department of Education. These schools are often in crisis, desperately in need of action now to ensure that children have access a quality learning environment,
equipment, infrastructure and spaces to play. Challenges to education include violence against girls, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy, with youngsters increasingly vulnerable to the threat of HIV and Aids.

By supporting children’s development with opportunities for gender sensitive sports coaching, recreational facilities, sports infused life-skills programmes and community based sporting events that promote and increase awareness of child rights, Unicef aims to build a legacy of child friendly schools and communities beyond 2010.

In addition to exhibiting at the Soccerex convention, Unicef will also be represented on the key ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) discussion panel by Kamau and other keynote speakers. A gala dinner, communication and fund raising strategy will form the basis for the Unicef / Soccerex partnership.