Formula One has teamed up with UNICEF, a partnership which will see the two parties work towards helping the most vulnerable children access quality education and also bolster UNICEF’s humanitarian response around the world, so it can help protect children in emergencies.
The three-year partnership is estimated to have Formula One supporting approximately 6.5 million children from vulnerable and marginalised communities to access quality education, including in key areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which will also allow UNICEF to give the children a safe learning space in emergencies.
Formula One will also support UNICEF’s Learning Passport, which is a portable digital platform that allows children to continue learning both offline and online. The platform is currently present in 26 countries, and Formula One will use its platform to help it reach out to wider audiences, aiming to reach out to 19 countries, including setting up offline versions in Brazil and Mexico.
Formula One will also support UNICEF’s emergency response efforts via donations through the Emergency Fund.
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula One, commented:
“In a sport where research, technology and innovation play a vital role in a driver and team’s success, education is at the core of Formula 1. The partnership with UNICEF will enable us to effectively use our sport’s global platform to help bridge the educational divide experienced by the world’s most vulnerable children. Every child has a right to a quality education and to be protected during emergencies. We are proud that we can play a role in ensuring the most vulnerable children are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their goals.”
Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of The UK Committee for UNICEF, said:
“The world is facing a growing learning crisis, with millions of children continuing to miss out on school and access to the technology they need to learn and flourish. Investment in education is fundamental to the development of children and young people, and to building the societies and economies they need for the future, so we must act now to prevent this learning crisis. With Formula 1, we are starting a new partnership that will help ensure that more children have access to quality learning and the skills training they need to succeed in school, work and life. At UNICEF, we believe that sports play a unique role in bringing people together, helping us to address the biggest issues affecting children, including those caught up in humanitarian emergencies.”
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