9/3/2007
Commission Football Tournament raises money for deprived children

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, met representatives from 14 children's charities this week to hand over money raised during a Commission inter-departmental football tournament.

More than €61,000 was raised during last year's Schuman Trophy tournament, which was won by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office, the Commission department which manages European Union external aid. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said : "I am very pleased to meet representatives of the charities that will benefit from the money raised from the Schuman Trophy. This money will be used to cover basic needs – food, electricity, education and health – and pedagogical and psychological support to children not only in Belgium but as far afield as Burkina Faso, Serbia, Uganda, Bangladesh and Vietnam."

The Schuman Trophy was established 10 years ago as a way of raising money for deprived children. Since then, more than €300,000 has been raised for good causes chosen by the Schuman Trophy's organising committee.

The money raised at the 2006 tournament will be shared between 14 charities. They are the Belgium SOS Villages d'Enfants, Plan Belgique, L'Ecole à l'Hôpital et à Domicile, SOS Liban, Peluche, Caria, Le Courant d'Air, Maison Chance, Hôpi Clown, Ecole Escalpade, Enfance Tiers Monde, Ensemble Pas à Pas and CSKS, and Savet Mesne Zajednice sela Oresac from Serbia. The funds received by these charities will be assist children all around the world.