UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham makes surprise visit to London school to mark World Children’s Day
Photos available here: http://uni.cf/2B29O4d
London, 20 November 2017 – Today, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham made a surprise visit to Kentish Town C of E Primary School in London to celebrate World Children’s Day.
During the visit, David met pupils aged between five and 11 from the student council to discuss the issues that affect them most such as their right to feel valued, listened to and respected. David then treated the children to an impromptu game of football in the playground of the North London school.
Kentish Town Primary School is a Level Two Rights Respecting School, an initiative run by Unicef UK which supports schools to place the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of their ethos. It empowers pupils to realise their own rights and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.
David chose to visit Kentish Town Primary School as today marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the mobilisation of the first World Children’s Day.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham said:
“This World Children’s Day we are handing over the reins to children, encouraging them to speak out for each other. One important lesson from my travels with UNICEF is that we need to listen to children about the world they want to live in. Today it’s been really inspiring visiting the school. It’s amazing to see how happy and confident the kids are and listening to them talk so passionately about learning and respecting the rights of children.”
Jude, aged 11, a pupil at Kentish Town Primary School said:
“It was really fun meeting David today hear him talk about how important it is to help UNICEF. He gave really good answers to all the questions we asked him. It was even more exciting because today is World Children’s Day!”
In addition to today’s school visit, David has released a short film in collaboration with UNICEF, in which he quizzes children about their views of the world. During the heart-warming film, Beckham is seen in conversation with five children asking a series of questions such as what changes they would like to see for children in the future and what rules they would give grown-ups. The film was recorded in New York with children aged 6-10 years-old: Smith (6), Jenna (7), Fiona (7), Jayla (8) and Royce (10). Watch and download it here.
David will also be doing a Facebook Live this afternoon at 17.00 GMT as part of today’s children’s takeover to mark World Children’s Day.
Children all around the world have been celebrating World Children’s Day today by ‘taking over’ key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights and fulfil their potential. In the UK, hundreds of schools have taken part in the OutRight campaign – Unicef UK’s annual schools campaign that enables and empowers children and young people to speak out in support of children’s rights and celebrate World Children’s Day.
David Beckham has been a long standing supporter of UNICEF since playing with Manchester United and became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2005. In 2015, his tenth year with Unicef, he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund to help protect children in danger. David is working with Unicef to ensure that world leaders put children first and agree new development goals that will help end violence, preventable death and poverty for every child.
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Notes for editors:
For more information please contact:
Unicef UK media team, 0207 375 6030 / [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk.
About 7: The David Beckham UNICEF fund
In February 2015, UNICEF and David Beckham OBE launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund to mark David’s tenth year as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
The 7 Fund is a unique partnership, with the goal of helping the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children reach their full potential. We are working together to transform the lives of children affected by extreme poverty, discrimination, exploitation or violence.
The money raised through the 7 Fund goes to a range of UNICEF programmes around the world where funding is critically low and where children are most at risk.
In Djibouti for example, the Fund is helping UNICEF to ensure more children receive the care and attention they need to thrive in the first 1,000 days of life, and the Fund has improved the chances of survival for more than 140,000 children under five in Djibouti.
About Rights Respecting Schools Award
The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) supports schools across the UK to embed children’s rights in their ethos and culture. The award recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s practice to improve well-being and help all children realise their potential.
Over 4,000 primary and secondary schools in the UK are involved, reporting a positive impact on behaviour, relationships and well-being, leading to better learning, improved academic standards and a reduction in bullying.