Monday, January 24, 2011

Spain's National Goalkeeper Launches Comic Book About Millenium Development Goals

Today, at the United Nations in Geneva, the goalkeeper for Spain’s national team and Real Madrid, Iker Casillas, introduced the new comic book, “Score the Goals: Teaming Up to Achieve The Millennium Development Goals.” The event followed Casillas’ recent appointment to Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program.

As quoted on the United Nations website,"I am very honoured to be part of this comic book,” Casillas declared. “It is a fantastic fun way to raise awareness and to educate children around the world about the Millennium Development Goals, and about important life values such as tolerance, respect and team spirit. As it says in the comic book, together we can make it happen!”

The comic book features 10 soccer Goodwill Ambassadors. Among them are Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raúl Ronaldo, and Michael Ballack. The plot centers around the players getting shipwrecked on their way to playing a charity soccer match; and on their journey towards being rescued they tackle the eight Millennium Development Goals.

The comic book is targeted at 8-12 year olds, and is a fun and innovative way to familiarize children with what can be done to help others in poverty-stricken nations. It also invites them to take action through several activities provided in the adjoining educational guide.

The year 2015 is the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals, and the involvement of athletes adds great value to the UN, as they often serve as role models, and hence have increased leverage in raising awareness about important issues.

The first batch of 10,000 has already been printed at the UN office in Geneva on recycled paper using vegetable ink.


-Martina Georgieva


SOURCE: UN.org