Opening speech of Mr. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg for the initiative „goals4kids“

“It is an honour and pleasure for me to take on the patronage of goals4kids. This initiative combines the enthusiasm for soccer that unites nations with local social commitment.

The goals4kids initiative has taken on the opportunity of the Soccer World Cups –for men in 2010 and for women in 2011 with their venues in South Africa respectively Germany to offer training sponsorships for children and adolescents in South Africa and Germany: one sponsorship for each „German goal”. In doing so, goals4kids is bridging the gap between our continents and bringing people of both countries closer together. goals4kids shows that humanity and social commitment know no national frontiers. Each child and adolescent –who receives a well-funded education thanks to goals4kids is able to take life into his/her own hands and to contribute to the upkeep of their families. By helping others to help themselves and to shape their future, this initiative ensures to have sustainable impact. However different the basic conditions in South Africa and Germany might be, the fact that children and adolescents are our most valuable asset for the future applies to both our nations. It is therefore my most heartfelt mission to support the goals4kids initiative.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for our national teams. Each goal we score does not only add up to our success record in sports, but it also gives perspective to a child or adolescent. In the long run, we all benefit from this. Is there a better reason to wish our soccer players best of success and lots of goals, and to express the most sincere gratitude to the goals4kids association?
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg