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Club return to Save the Children project

Save the Children China
Save the Children China

Arsenal Football Club recently made a visit to a primary school in Beijing to see the impact of a project supported by the Arsenal Foundation.

The club first visited the school back in July 2012 to launch a teacher training programme, run by global charity partner Save the Children, to develop teachers’ skills and deliver effective and age-appropriate lessons. This initiative, funded by The Arsenal Foundation, has since helped to dramatically improve the quality of education at the school, located in an area of Beijing where the quality of education is often below the national standard.

During the recent visit, Arsenal’s Tony Gu, director of international business development, China and Asia, attended an interactive physical education class with the school children. Arsenal gave sports equipment and stationery to the students as a thank you for welcoming the club back to the project.

Gu said: “It was fantastic to see that the pupils are now receiving a much higher standard of education compared with when I first visited the school in 2012. The PE lesson made me realise what an important role sport plays in childrens' health and character development.

“What’s more, the teachers are so grateful for the training they have received and expressed that they now feel much more capable and confident to teach. It was so inspiring to revisit the school and will certainly spur us on to continue raising much-needed funds so we can support more projects like this with Save the Children.”

Since Arsenal’s partnership with Save the Children began in 2012, the charity has been working in 22 under-resourced schools in Beijing for migrant children, and has conducted teacher training for 285 teachers and management training for 31 school principles. As a result, the project has benefited a total of 26,675 children aged six to 15.

Pia Macrae, country director for Save the Children China, said: “We couldn’t have helped as many disadvantaged children as we have in China without the support of The Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal Football Club. Education plays a crucial role in providing children with a route out of poverty, so it is fundamental that teachers and schools in the poorer areas of Beijing receive appropriate training to provide their pupils with the chance of a brighter future. We’re so grateful for Arsenal’s ongoing support and look forward to continue working with the Club to improve children’s lives in China.”

Arsenal Football Club announced Save the Children as their first ever global charity partner in July 2011 with a shared vision to help children fulfil their potential. Funding from The Arsenal Foundation supports Save the Children’s education projects in the UK, China, and Indonesia, as well as in emergencies, including the current crisis in Syria.

For more information about Arsenal’s global charity partnership, click here