Mr. Tendulkar was on a go to to Sri Lanka, the place met with and advocated for youngsters and their households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 financial disaster, which left thousands and thousands in want of help.
Because the nation strikes in direction of restoration, costs stay excessive for important gadgets and education, leaving households with the tough selection of both placing meals on the desk or supporting their youngsters’s studying, UNICEF mentioned in a information launch on Tuesday.
“The youngsters I spoke with, are exhibiting nice tenacity, and their hope for a greater future stays robust. We have to proceed supporting them so that they hold reaching their targets,” Mr. Tendulkar mentioned.
“By investing of their schooling and vitamin, we aren’t solely investing of their future but in addition each nation’s future,” he added.
Supporting youngsters throughout Sri Lanka
The UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador visited colleges and plantations, the place the UN company has been supporting youngsters and their households.
Since August 2022, UNICEF’s noon meal programme has been offering nutritious meals to some 50,000 preschool youngsters in practically 1,400 colleges throughout the nation. The meal programme has additionally helped enhance pre-school attendance.
Moreover, as a part of the assist for Sri Lanka’s financial restoration, UNICEF offered money transfers to greater than 110,000 households with youngsters as much as two years of age to purchase nutritious meals and different necessary child provides.
‘I used to be a naughty child’
Sachin Tendulkar, dubbed “the little grasp” by followers globally, additionally met with younger Sri Lankans and shared his experiences rising up.
The “Cricket Catch-Ups” featured Mr. Tendulkar speaking about overcoming obstacles, resilience and specializing in the pursuit of his aim.
“Cricket taught me lots in life […] I used to be a naughty child”, he mentioned chatting with the press on the finish of his journey.
He went to share how cricket helped him deal with his aim – to play for India. It helped him to begin planning and, importantly, easy methods to execute these plans; in addition to instructing him life classes on success, failure, celebrations and disappointments.
“I’d encourage youngsters in Sri Lanka to exit and play sports activities, it would profit their well being. No matter they select to be in life […] they are going to be a greater particular person, if they’re fitter individuals.” Mr. Tendulkar added.
Regional Goodwill Ambassador
Sachin Tendulkar was appointed the primary UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia in 2013. Since then, he has been taking part in a pivotal position in enhancing the lives of kids within the area.
In Bhutan, Mr. Tendulkar promoted UNICEF’s Hand Washing Initiative; in India, he campaigned for sanitation and use of bathrooms; and in Nepal, supported the UN company’s Bat for Mind Improvement programme and promoted ladies’s participation in cricket.
