Following in Pele's footsteps: Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
At a ceremony held on Friday, February 2, at the training center of the football giant Real Madrid, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azule introduced Brazilian football sensation Vinicius Junior as the new goodwill ambassador for education for all.
Audrey Azoulay presented the 23-year-old striker with a letter of appointment recognizing his exceptional achievements on the field and his unwavering commitment to promoting equal education in Brazil, according to the UN news website.
She stressed that the Brazilian national team player is "not only an outstanding footballer, but also a passionate advocate of equal access to education."
This is the second time in UNESCO history that a Brazilian footballer has been named a goodwill ambassador, following in the footsteps of the legendary Pele.
"He is a role model for an entire generation, and it is a great honor for UNESCO that he joined our esteemed group of goodwill ambassadors," Azule said.
In 2021, Vinicius Junior founded the Instituto Viní Jr., which aims to help underprivileged Brazilian children and adolescents reintegrate back into the education system. The Institute uses sports values to inspire students from different backgrounds to continue their education.
Vinicius Junior's commitment to social justice is evident in his advocacy against discrimination and prejudice, especially in cases of racism that he and others face on and off the field.
His collaboration with FIFA and Brazil in the "Racism, Don't Pretend You Don't See It" campaign earned him the prestigious Socrates 2023 Award, presented at last year's Golden Ball ceremony, the evening of major football awards.
In line with UNESCO's goal of promoting education for all, Vinicius Junior will play a crucial role by speaking at international conferences, interacting with Member States and the public, and supporting UNESCO's global educational initiatives.
UNESCO reports that about 250 million children and adolescents currently do not have access to education, and their number has increased by 6 million since 2021.
In addition, seven out of 10 children cannot read and understand basic text by the age of 10, which underscores the urgent need to take measures to combat social inequality, which leads to an increase in the number of children dropping out of school and to a decrease in academic performance.
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