Two-day Learning and Advocacy Tour on Behalf of Save the Children’s U.S. Programmes Includes Visits to Home and School-Based Education programmes

Victoria Beckham and her ten-year-old son Brooklyn visited Clay County, Kentucky on November 9th and 10th on behalf of Save the Children’s U.S. programmes, in an effort to better understand childhood poverty in the United States and to advocate for an equal start for all children.

With a childhood poverty rate of 47.8 percent and a median household income of $19,728 (approx £12,000), Clay County -- located in the southeast part of Kentucky -- is one of the poorest counties in America. One in six children in America live in poverty, a figure that jumps to one in five in rural areas.  Tragically intertwined with the childhood poverty crisis is poor cognitive and emotional development, illiteracy and obesity.

Accompanied by Mark Shriver, Managing Director of Save the Children’s U.S. programmes, the Beckhams engaged in a number of programmes run by Save the Children. 

• At Manchester Elementary School in Manchester, KY, they participated in an after-school programmes that enriches elementary age children with reading activities and healthy snacks.  They also conducted a soccer lesson with children and distributed shoes and backpacks provided by Adidas.
• At Big Creek Elementary School in Oneida, KY, they participated in a book bag exchange, where toddler-age children are provided tote bags filled with books.  They also read “Duck in the Truck,” -- a favourite of Victoria and Brooklyn’s -- to a group of toddlers.  These programmes ensure stimulation and cognitive development that are essential to later academic success.
• Victoria and Brooklyn also accompanied Save the Children early childhood development experts on home visits, providing literacy and nutrition tools to parents.  Victoria also met with school principals and teachers to better understand the challenges they face and the support provided by Save the Children’s programmes.

“What I saw in Clay Country was the hope and promise inherent in every child.  That’s why we have to make sure every single child has a fair and equal start in life,” said Beckham. “Seeing Save the Children’s innovative programmes in action, I know that we can begin to reverse the childhood poverty crisis.   I’m pleased Brooklyn is learning that, by helping and joining other children, he can play a role in making his generation the greatest yet. 

“By advocating a fair start for all children, Victoria is setting a powerful example for learning about and understanding the challenges confronting too many children in America today,” said Shriver.  “Instilling in Brooklyn the value of generational responsibility, she knows that a better sense of unity among children will make a future America and global community even greater.”

Serving 50,000 children in nearly 200 of our country's poorest and most remote communities, Save the Children’s U.S. programmes has a strong track record of preparing young children to succeed in school and boosting reading scores and teaching healthy lifestyles to school-aged children.

More information

For more information please contact Steven Fisher,+1 202 640 6613