Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour debuts charity single for refugees at sport event in New York City.
Fundraising will go towards sports projects to help young people and refugees in Algeria, Djibouti, Lebanon and Kenya
Save the Dream, in partnership with renowned Senegalese singer and political leader Youssou N’Dour, has launched a new single at a spectacular event in New York aimed at promoting hope and peace through sport to raise awareness for the plight of young refugees.
The song, titled Save the Dream, was written with the main aim to raise funds to restore access to sport for displaced children in affected refugee communities.
Save the Dream, an initiative which works to empower and inspire youth and communities through the values of sport, launched the song in Times Square, where it was performed live for the first time by Youssou N’Dour in front of hundreds of local children, sports stars, artists and Save the Dream ambassadors who were there took part in a day of sporting activities.
Building on worldwide Save the Dream projects, which already includes work in India, Brazil, Italy, Haiti, Latin American countries and the whole Mediterranean Basin, funds raised by the song will be used to implement sports-related projects in refugee camps and communities in many countries all around the world such as Algeria, Djibouti, Lebanon and Kenya, which have been identified by Save the Dream in consultation with United Nations agencies.
Speaking on stage in Times Square, Youssou N’Dour said:
“Like music, sport plays a special role in the lives of many people around the world. It inspires, excites, educates and gives hope to those who have experienced hardship in their lives. It brings people together, it unites nations.”
“Collaborating with Save the Dream means a lot to me and has provided this special opportunity to harness the power of sport and music and to raise funds for an important cause which will make a real difference to the lives of many young people. I hope the Save the Dream song captures the hearts and minds of people around the world and helps more children to play access sport!”
Youssou N’Dour was joined on-stage, for the performance, by Save the Dream Ambassadors, including Alessandro Del Piero, Giusy Versace, Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro, Penny Heyns and Fernando Sanz, as well as hundreds of local children, sports stars, artists and officials.
Save the Dream Ambassador and international footbal star Alessandro Del Piero added:
“When young people play sport, it provides significant benefits; it can break down barriers between communities and aid in socioeconomic development. For millions of children displaced by war, famine and threats to everyday livelihood, sport can provide an important path to inspire and provide hope.
“That is why initiatives such as Save the Dream’s are so important in raising awareness for those children adversely affected. We can demonstrate through actions and words that if you can play sport in the middle of New York City, in the poor areas of Delhi and in earthquake-affected Haiti, then you can play sport anywhere and I urge people everywhere to buy the song and raise much-needed funds for young refugees.”
Mohammed Hanzab, President of the International Centre for Sport Security, which established Save the Dream, said:
“We have all been touched by images of refugees who have been forced from their homes and are struggling to come to terms with their new circumstances. What has been particularly difficult to witness is the plight of the children, who through no fault of their own, have had their lives destroyed and their innocence lost as a result of conflicts beyond their control.
“We hope this beautiful song composed exclusively for Save the Dream helps to draw the world’s attention to their plight and gives ordinary people an opportunity to make a difference to the live of these young refugees. We believe sport can make a difference to improve the wellbeing of children everywhere and we urge citizens of the world to buy Youssou N’Dour’s wonderful song and help us raise funds for this important cause.”
Leave a Reply