Atsu celebrates World Orphan Day at Soccer School in Newcastle
Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu visited Newcastle United Foundation’s half-term soccer school at Goals Newcastle on Thursday, to meet youngsters and talk to them about what life is like for more than one million orphans growing up in his homeland, Ghana.
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The Newcastle star recently became an ambassador for Arms Around The Child, who provide loving homes, education, health care, protection, love and respect for orphans who have often been rescued from trafficking, slavery and abuse in Africa.
Christian Atsu was visiting Newcastle United Foundation’s Half-Term Soccer School as part of an initiative in his role as Ambassador for Arms Around the Child to help highlight World Orphan Day on November 14.
And 24-year-old Atsu took time out of his preparations for Saturday’s game against Preston North End to pass on some football skills tips at the soccer centre in Gosforth, as well as talking to North-East children about the work he does with the charity, to highlight World Orphans Day on November 14.
As a thank you, the youngsters presented Christian with football kit – donated by Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle United’s Academy – for the children at the orphanage.
Atsu said: “I really enjoyed working with the Newcastle United Foundation and telling the children on their soccer school about the charity I support in Ghana.
“I was incredibly grateful to receive their donation for the children in the Orphanage – I wasn’t expecting that and I know how much it will be appreciated when I take it over.
“Meeting the orphans whose lives have been transformed through Arms Around The Child’s support and hearing the sad stories full of abandonment and sorrow, then to see how they have adapted and grown together as one big happy family, is inspirational.
“It’s clear that many children are suffering, I shall do my best to support Arms Around The Child and some of these children in my homeland and beyond. Investing time, talent and resources results in happier and healthier lives.
“In Sub Sahara Africa there are more than 48 million orphans and on World Orphan Day it is important to raise awareness of what is needed to help those children and to show those who do donate what an amazing difference their support can make.”
