Media release
Tuesday 6 October 2009
EDUCATION COALITION CALLS FOR LASTING LEGACY
FOR 2010 WORLD CUP
Australian Government Minister for Youth and Sport, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, today
joined soccer stars Socceroo Vincenzo Grella, Matilda Sarah Walsh and a coalition of
non-governmental organisations to launch the 1GOAL: Education for All campaign in
Australia.
Later today, world leaders, including Australia’s Prime Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd
MP, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and United Nations Secretary-
General Ban Ki Moon will join each other via video-link to pledge their support for the
campaign.
1GOAL
has one purpose:
to ensure that people of all ages around the world and
especially the 75 million children out of school– half of them in Africa and nearly two-
thirds girls – get access to quality education, classrooms, teachers and the future that
education provides.
1GOAL was launched in Australia by a coalition of non-governmental organisations
led by ActionAid Australia, ASPBAE Australia (Asia South Pacific Association for
Basic and Adult Education) and Football Federation Australia.
“Education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families, communities and whole
countries, leading to economic growth, democracy and a more stable future, said
ActionAid CEO Mr Archie Law.
“Today more than 900 million adults are unable to read or write, but it doesn’t need to
be this way.
“Since 2000, because governments and people took action, 40 million more children are
in school. We have a plan, we know how to beat this – all we need now is the will to
make it happen.
“If we come together around this World Cup, we can do even more and reach our
goal.”
1GOAL is the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first world cup to be
held in Africa, and calls on football fans and the public to sign-up at
The leaders are calling on football fans and education campaigners to make education
the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2010 and have agreed to meet on the eve of the
FIFA World Cup 2010 in Africa for a summit on education.
Bernie Lovegrove, Executive Director of ASPBAE Australia called on the government to
ensure its overseas aid to education contributes to achieving all six international Education
For All goals. “We are pleased that the Rudd Government has scaled up education aid, but at
the same time we urge the government to ensure that funding covers education from early
childhood through to adult and lifelong learning, rather than trading one education goal off
against another.”
He further called on the Australian Government to pay its fair share of the education
financing gap: “The financing gap for primary and lower-secondary education is estimated at
US$16 billion per year and Australia still has quite a way to go to pay its fair share. In this
time of financial crisis governments must not retreat from their commitments to aid for
education.”
Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley said he was delighted to support the
1GOAL initiative and encourages everyone to show their support.
"Education is an important policy objective in any society to ensure that people have
the best possible opportunity to reach their potential and to realise better economic,
health and social outcomes,” Mr Buckley said.
Sports star Socceroo Vincenzo Grella said the Qantas Socceroos were honored to support this
worldwide movement to promote education for all and that he urges all football fans to visit
the 1GOAL website to show their support.
Sarah Walsh of the Matildas called on all Australians to support the initiative. “The Westfield
Matildas are proud to be part of the 1GOAL initiative and ask all world leaders and all
Australians to support education for girls and boys.”
To pledge support to 1GOAL: Education for All, log onto www.join1goal.org.
--Ends--
BACKGROUND
About ActionAid Australia
ActionAid Australia is part of an international anti-poverty network working in over 40
countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. Education is
one of ActionAid’s priority areas of work. Further information about ActionAid can be found
About ASPBAE
ASPBAE Australia is part of a broader regional network, the Asia South Pacific Association
of Basic and Adult Education, of over 240 member organisations in 30 countries around the
Asia Pacific region. ASPBAE Australia works with education coalitions in many countries in
About 1GOAL: Education for All
1GOAL is a new campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to ensure that every child
worldwide has the opportunity of an education. Global football stars, the football world and
FIFA are behind 1GOAL – this World Cup, we’re asking fans to sign up to give 75 million
children a chance in life. Together, name by name, we can make a difference and call on
world leaders to ensure education for all.
1GOAL is a part of the Class of 2015 initiative, led by the Global Campaign for Education
and includes support from key charities, teaching unions, faith groups, private sector and
committed governments.
Media contacts :
Jessica Sain: (03) 9863 7629 / 0403 389 860 / jessica.sain@edelman.com
Adam Hunt: (03) 9863 7627 / 0433 200 043 /adam.hunt@edelman.com
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