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The England and Manchester City footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips has been the Ambassador of Education for the Children Foundation since 2007. He has now visited Guatemala twice- in June 2007 and again in June 2008. He is a dedicated fundraiser and has been instrumental in raising awareness for the Foundation as well as holding several events to raise much needed funds. Shaun also sponsors a whole class of primary children. 2008 Guatemala tripThis year Shaun came to visit the project with friends and family. The group got a fantastic welcome from the children who were thrilled to see him! The hard work began when Shaun got involved with the Chonoy project. One of the boys in our school had suffered terrible injuries when he was hit by a motorcycle. The Foundation visited his home as he was recovering, and it was glaringly apparent that the Chonoy house was in desperate need of work and was in no fit state for a recovering child like Juan Daniel. Shaun and his family were quick to get involved, and rebuilt the Chonoy Family's house along with a team of high school students and builders. The job included carrying backbreaking loads of concrete up the steep mountain track and Shaun said it was one of the hardest things he has ever done. Juan Daniel is now back at school- and his family's house is safe and secure.
Another highlight on the 2008 trip was Shaun's volcano climb with a group of high school students. The team climbed Volcan Pacaya which towers over Antigua Guatemala at 2550 metres. They even got up close to molten lava! If you want to read more about Shaun's experience in Guatemala, take a look at his website where he has written his own account of the experience Harley Davidson Bike RideOn the 10th August 2008 Shaun led a pack of bikers from Chelsea to Cookham Dean in Berkshire in a bid to raise money and awareness for the charity. The event was a success- it caused a real media frenzy as Shaun and fellow footballers took to the road on these brilliant bikes and trikes. Shaun and his friends each donated £4,000 to take part in the event and the total raised to date is in the region of £15,000. You can still sponsor Shaun's efforts by going to www.justgiving.com/shaunwright-phillips You can read more about this and look at the photos by clicking on Events 2007 Guatemala TripIn June of 2007 he came over with a TV crew from Chelsea TV to film a documentary which highlighted the huge social problems that exist in Guatemala. He had a packed schedule and was willing to join in with everything. As you can imagine the children loved him!
He visited the homes of some of our poorest children and was visibly shocked and moved at the poverty he witnessed. As part of our initiative to install safe & smoke free stoves in the houses of our children, Shaun assisted the ONIL workers at Jeni's house. As you can imagine there are deadly and debilitating results from constant exposure to this toxic smoke and The World Health Organisation has stated that 'children exposed to the open fires used for cooking in Guatemala will develop permanent lung damage by the age of five'.
We would also like to thank Shaun for all of the time he spent with the children, especially for the 266 shirts he was asked to sign!!
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