Younghusbands' other advocacy: Education

MANILA, Philippines - Local football stars Phil and James Younghusband are using their newfound celebrity status to promote the importance of education.                                                                                     

For a year now, the Younghusband brothers have been the education ambassadors of non-government organization VSO Bahaginan, which supports development programs in impoverished communities.

The brothers have started a football academy in the Philippines and have been visiting provinces to teach the game to children.                                                                        

“We train the trainers not just to teach football but also to teach kids to become good people,” Phil said during the recent “Volunteering Expo” where the Younghusbands were among the speakers.

The Younghusband brothers were among the speakers in the “Volunteering Expo” held by VSO Bahaginan at the Araneta Center.                                                                                     

  James said celebrities make an impact on advocacies because people look up to them. Now that more people are becoming interested in football, he believes this is the perfect time for them to push for their advocacy.

Phil agrees, sharing he was inspired by football superstar David Beckham to play the sport.

“For me role models are very important. One of the reasons I became a football player was David Beckham… I think the influence role models have in youth is amazing and if your role model is positive and can affect youth in a positive way,” he said.                                                            

  When they were teenagers, the brothers supported various charities. But they only became serious in doing volunteer work when they became celebrities.                                                

“People recognize us so it is a good time to be ambassadors (and) use our influence to support a campaign like this,” Phil said.                                                                                    

The brothers were tapped last year to be ambassadors for the campaign “One Goal: Education for All” to benefit 72 million out-of-school children, six million of whom are Filipinos.                                                                               

“We owe a lot to education. If not for education, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Phil said.

“We feel there is a great importance in education and education helped me and my brother as individuals, as players (and) as people… We were able to do interviews and clinics where we can promote the campaign on the importance of education,” he added.

Former Sen. Richard Gordon, who was one of the speakers, said Filipinos are naturally inclined to share their skills with others.                                                                                    

Marilou Juanito, executive director of VSO Bahaginan, said the expo was aimed at providing individuals and organizations opportunities for volunteer work and at the same time, provide expertise to raise the standards of volunteer work in the Philippines.                                                             

“Volunteering can be a real tool for nation-building and development,” she said.