Brown pledges €1.08bn a year in global child education drive

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged yesterday to contribute £1 billion (€1.081bn) every year towards educating children around the world when he was joined by sporting heroes and world leaders for the launch of a global campaign.

Brown met Queen Rania of Jordan, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker at the Emirates Stadium in north London to begin the 1GOAL initiative to provide education for all children in the run-up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

Brown said: “The greatest of injustices demands the boldest of action by the best of people preparing for the greatest sporting tournament in the world.

“It is simply wrong that today and every day 75 million girls and boys are not going to school ... and we can, with your support, be the first generation in the history of the world that can guarantee every child the chance of the education they need to fulfil their potential.

“South Africa is a country which knowsbetter than any other country what sport can do beyond the playing field to make a difference, and the World Cup will bring together people from all over the world to play in the greatest sporting tournament we have ever seen. But the World Cup can also be the occasion where people come together to ensure the biggest education achievement the world has ever seen as well.

“Representing Britain, I am able to say that, in the next few years, every year, we will contribute £1bn to educating millions of children within Africa and in the rest of the world.”

Brown called on other countries participating in the tournament to join him in the campaign.

South African football captain Aaron Mokoena said he was humbled to take part in the campaign.

Mokoena was joined by video link by South African President Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg, who said: “Education is critical to development and well-being of humanity.”

He said his country was committed to the mission.

Footballers and other world leaders – including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Spanish President Luis Zapatero, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and sports stars John Terry, David James, Ruud Gullit and Rio Ferdinand – also spoke via video link or pre-recorded message to pledge their support.