The New York Times’ Jack Bell wrote under the header, “European Stars Coming to the U.S. for Charity Game.”
The All Stars for Hope charity match will be held June 14 in New York. The event will benefit Schools for Hope, which was started by Arsenal F Mikael Silvestre.
Silvestre “started the charity with the goal of building schools around the world.” Bell noted that “so far, it has built several in Niger and Guinea, and it is seeking financing for additional schools in Laos, parts of South America and perhaps the United States.”
Silvestre: “I want to act, I want to be involved, with my own money. The focus is not on football at these schools, it is getting a good education, basic skills and professional skills, so the students are able to go out and get a good job”
Bell reported that “the school in Guinea will graduate its first class this year.” The school in Niger’s capital, Niamey, “draws children whose parents are lepers or otherwise disabled.” Silvestre said that “it takes about $68,000 to operate the schools for two years.” Silvestre added that “the hope was to raise moeny to complete work at the school in Laos and there are plans for schools in Brazil, Argentina, Burkina Faso and perhaps New Orleans” (Jack Bell, New York Times, 1/12). Read the entire article from the New York Times
Video added to YouTube: December 23, 2008
