Roberto Mancini wanted to make a note of the thoughts and impressions of the time spent in Jordan, by creating a travel diary.
Meeting children fleeing the Syria war housed in some centres where UNICEF provides psychological assistance, education and recreational activities: this was the aim of the mission carried out on 11th and 12th December by Roberto Mancini, who has been a UNICEF Italia “Goodwill Ambassador” since December 2014.
Together with UNICEF Italia Director Paolo Rozera, the coach visited the refugee camp of Za’atari, in Jordan. With a population of 80,000 people, Za’atari is the largest camp of Syrian refugees in the world. UNICEF and its partners are providing life-saving aid through vaccines, medicines, clean water, sanitation and a chance for children and young people to continue receiving an education for their future.
TRAVEL DIARY
Roberto Mancini wanted to make a note of the thoughts and impressions of the time spent in Jordan, by creating a travel diary.
DAY 1 - With my sons, Andrea and Filippo, we left for Jordan with the UNICEF delegation to visit the Za’atari Camp, which houses Syrian refugees.
DAY 2 - Early in the morning we met UNICEF Jordan and left for Za’atari. We reached the UNICEF mission, where we had a briefing held by the camp managers. After that, we met the Jordanian authorities and took part in a presentation of the camp’s activities and of the humanitarian organisations that operate there.
9:30 AM - We visited the male UNICEF Makani centre, where we met teachers and heard how important it is to continue guaranteeing an education for the future of children. The true challenge for UNICEF is convincing all the families within the camp to have their children attend school.
Afterwards, I played a game of football with the local children together with my boys Andrea and Filippo. Thirty minutes of play which ended in penalties: it was great to see the sheer enthusiasm of these children, who wanted very much to show how good they were at dribbling and kicking the ball!
11:30 AM - We visited the new drinking water pumping station managed by UNICEF, which can finally fulfil the camp’s needs after many years. Having drinking water was one of the big challenges overcome by UNICEF, a great satisfaction: that is why I wanted to personally thank all the workers for their great effort and their hard work!
2:00 PM - We visited the female UNICEF Makani centre, where I met the camp’s female students. In this centre, UNICEF guarantees an education to girls and most of all tries to combat the sad phenomenon of early marriages arranged by families.
After the visit to the centre, I put on my boots again for another football match: I gave much advice and tips to everyone and tried to entertain the audience with some fancy kicks – I haven’t forgotten how to do them!
3:30 PM - This was one of the mission’s most touching moments: I was asked by one of the camp’s families to their home, where I heard the story of Louai, 16 years old, a young footballer who was selected, alongside 20 other Za’atari children, for an internship at a Qatari football team. In their humble home, built of metal sheets, Louai’s mother told me how for them football, together with education, represents a chance for their children’s future. Their family escaped Syria and to this day they haven’t all been reunited.
4:00 PM - We returned to the UNICEF camp base, where we then left to return to Amman, leaving this place with a deep feeling in our hearts, but also a strong hope that these people, and especially the youngest, the children, the defenceless, can soon find the calm and serenity they deserve!
