The Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr. became the new International Ambassador of the award-winning international NGO Handicap International today during an event at Geneva’s Place des Nations. Through this partnership, Neymar is lending his huge fame to a good cause: empowering the most vulnerable people in the world, people with disabilities living in poor countries, victims of conflicts and natural disasters.

The first action of Neymar Jr. as an ambassador of Handicap International was to send a message of support to people with disabilities across the world. At 3:00 pm in Geneva, he went on the top of the 39-foot Broken Chair monument and called for more inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Symbolically, this message took the shape of a soccer ball with the logo of Handicap International on it. He then kicked the ball down the line of flags that lead to the Palace of Nations. The event was followed by a press conference hosted by the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Broken Chair is the work of the Swiss artist Daniel Berset, erected 20 years ago by Handicap International in front of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva to call for a ban on antipersonnel landmines.

More broadly speaking, Neymar Jr. chose to engage with Handicap International and to promote all of the charity’s work toward people with disabilities in poor countries and victims of natural disasters and conflicts. The star and Handicap International met on the topic of access to prosthesis for amputee children, which is a topic particularly close to Neymar Jr.’s heart and with which he has already supported. He wanted to support similar actions on a global scale, and got to know Handicap International’s prosthetic and orthotic programs.

In October 2016, Neymar Jr. showed his support to the organisation’s actions in Haiti on social media, following Hurricane Matthew. He answered positively to Handicap International’s invitation to come to Geneva for the “Broken Chair” event. On this occasion, he becomes the first international ambassador of Handicap International. In North America, Handicap International benefits from the committed support of two Goodwill Ambassadors: American pilot and motivational speaker Jessica Cox, and Canadian Dark Matter actor Anthony Lemke.

About Handicap International

Handicap International is an independent international aid organisation. It has been working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster for 35 years. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and basic rights. Handicap International has set up development programmes in more than 60 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. The network of eight national associations works constantly to mobilise resources, jointly manage projects and to increase the impact of the organisation’s principles and actions.

source: AFP