Nelson Mandela by Zapiro Goal4Africa raises funds for educational and development programs and the promotion of football throughout the African continent. AC Milans Dutch player Clarence Seedorf is Goal4Africa’s first global ambassador.

In Africa, 40 million children are deprived of primary education. This group includes particularly large numbers of girls, disabled children, orphans and children living in rural areas. According to the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful tool to changing the world and fight poverty.

Goal4Africa has been initiated to help realize Nelson Mandelas dream: to create better education for the children of Africa. It is inspired by two major upcoming events: Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, on 18 July 2008, and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in 2010. “It is our intention to have collected a substantial amount of money by 2010, to make Mandelas dream come true”, says a spokeswoman for Goal4Africa.

Besides Seedorf other top football players have given their support to Goal4Africa: Kaká, Frank Lampard, Paolo Maldini, Robin van Persie, Gianluigi Buffon, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gennaro Gatusso, Steven Gerrard, Fabio Cannavaro, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and many more.

The funds are raised by scoring goals. This means that everyone, individual, company, organisation or a group of friends, can make a contribution to the foundation. “If someone is, let’s say, a supporter of Robin van Persie, he or she can contribute an amount of money for every goal Van Persie scores in the coming football seasons”, the spokeswoman says. But sponsored goals by amateurs, goals scored in matches between friends or even virtually scored goals on internet games, are equally welcome. Exactly how it works, Goal4Africa will reveal on July 12. The money will be managed by FIFA and Unicef.

The idea of Goal4Africa originates with Dutch sports marketing consultant, Chris Vermeeren. Vermeeren has worked for Nike (8 years), Sara Lee, Audi, Olympics, WC 2002 and WTA. Other fundraising initiatives he has organised and managed include the Queen Beatrix Foundation, Ordina Celebrities of the Game, CF and Cancer Foundation and he has also raised funds for school projects in South Africa with other projects.P+ webtip: Goal4Africa