Current Affairs

FIGC / Amref Italia for H2Gol: Text-message to score against thirst

Roma 22/03/2010

A text-message to score against thirst in Africa.   During the “World Water Day” celebration yesterday, the “H2GOAL” campaign was launched, promoted by the FIGC and Amref Italia and part of a larger project of awareness called “A Goal for Africa”, conceived by the FIGC in light of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  Through a collection of funds, “H2GOL” has the objective of realizing specific projects aimed at a hygienic-health education in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, allowing the local communities to have access to water through the construction of clean water wells and sources.  Donations of 2 Euro can be made up until April 11th to Amref by sending text message to mobile number 45506 from private mobile numbers TIM, Vodafone, Wind, 3 and CoopVoce, or by calling the same number from fixed Telecom Italian telephone numbers.

With the “H2GOL”, sponsored by the Social ERAI Secretariat, Italian football confirms its vocation as becoming a tool for awareness and mobilization with respect to important social isseus such as health and education, assuming the role of promoter for the “A Goal for Africa” project, living benefit to three important non-profit organizations such as Amref, the Global Campaign for Education and UNICEF.  A strong message launched together with the World Cup in South Africa to bring attention to the problems that exist in one of the most problem-ridden areas of our planet. 

"During the day chosen by the United Nations to remind everyone that water is life, we cannot forget that each year millions of persons die because they have no drinking water available to drink, cook or wash themselves with – said  Tony Simmons, general Manager of Amref Italia – No water means no health and no development:  the damage to agriculture cannot even be calculated, animals die, and lessons at school cannot be carried out normally, mothers are away from home for many hours each day looking for water.  Eighty-percent of illnesses – explained Simmons- in Africa is related either directly or indirectly to the lack of clean water.  By creating a water well or by teaching communities how to manage water, how to protect themselves from disease and take care of hygiene, means saving a lot of lives.  A safe source of water reduces infant mortality by more than 20%, keeps women and children away from unhealthy areas and brings children back to school, healthy and with energy to dedicate to their studies”.