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16.11.2009 14:08
XICS centre opens in Burkina Faso
Marc Parramón (enviat especial) / Anna Segura
Joan Laporta, on behalf of the FC Barcelona Foundation, has opened the XICS centre in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. It is one of 12 such centres the Foundation has around the world and will provide for over one hundred children.
The XICS international solidarity organization has opened a new centre in the capital city of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. The centre will help local needy children.
A festival in Bogodogo
The
centre is in the Bogodogo neighbourhood, an area characterized by poverty, low school attendance
and illiteracy. FC Barcelona was represented at the inaugural ceremony by Joan Laporta, Foundation
Director General Marta Segú and Corporate Director General Joan Oliver. Amongst the local
dignitaries were the Mayor and the Ministers of Education, Sport, Social Action and Solidarity.
"The heart of Barça beats in Bogodogo"
Joan Laporta thanked “the ministries for their commitment to the project and
the local authorities for providing the land to build the centre”. He also spoke about
“the orphans, street children and talibes, who are the beneficiaries of this centre. The
heart of Barça now beats in the neighbourhood of Bogodogo".
A tour of the centre
The
speeches were followed by a visit to the new centre. It has a surface area of 22,830 m
2, including a built area of 5,397 m
2. There are 3 classrooms, a library, a kitchen, 5 offices, 5 showers, a multi-use room,
toilets and 17,433 m
2 of sports grounds. Three fruit trees were then planted to commemorate the day.
Help for 125 children
XICS Burkina Faso will cater for 125 children aged between 7 and 18. Many of them are orphans or talibes, children who live in the Koranic schools. The centre offers extra schooling, psychosocial, health and nutritional support. There are also classes in computing, sport and recreation. Their parents are also given classes in hygiene and mosquito nets are made available to prevent the spread of malaria.
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A player from Burkina Faso?
At the press conference, Joan Laporta was asked if he would sign a player from Burkina Faso. The
president replied that this was a matter for the technical secretary. Reporters were also
interesting in learning about the Club’s academy, La Masía.
Finally, the Minister for Sport, Ardjouma Jean-Pierre Palm, asked about becoming a member of FC Barcelona. He explained what happened the day Iniesta scored the vital last-gasp goal against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge that sent Barça through to the CL final in Rome: “The country went quiet and then exploded with a shout comparable to what can be heard in the Camp Nou”.
Finally, the Minister for Sport, Ardjouma Jean-Pierre Palm, asked about becoming a member of FC Barcelona. He explained what happened the day Iniesta scored the vital last-gasp goal against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge that sent Barça through to the CL final in Rome: “The country went quiet and then exploded with a shout comparable to what can be heard in the Camp Nou”.
