CAIRO: French footballing icon Zinedine Zidane was in Cairo on Thursday to launch a home for handicapped street children as part of a worldwide program aimed at helping the most disadvantaged youngsters.
Egypt s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood signed a protocol with French company Danone, for which Zidane is world ambassador, to provide handicapped and homeless children with shelter, health care and education.
It gives me immense pleasure to inaugurate a home for the handicapped street children of Egypt, Zidane told journalists.
Undoubtedly I will be more gratified when all the children of the world enjoy care, safety and protection.
Besides setting up a home to take in some of Cairo s thousands of street children, the program will also look at the possibility of job-creating projects for their families.
Cairo has between 200,000 and one million street children, according to the UN s children agency Unicef.
Former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder Zidane retired from professional football after playing for France in the 2006 World Cup final.
