DIDIER DROGBA FOUNDATION
The Didier Drogba Foundation was set up in 2007 with the purpose of providing practical support to people in need. As well as providing funding for several smaller projects in different parts of Africa, the main aim of the Foundation is to build a hospital in Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire.
In November 2009, Didier hosted a charity dinner which raised just over half a million pounds. This along with his Pepsi 2010 World Cup sponsorship fee, has gone towards purchasing the land and the initial costs towards building the hospital. More funds will be raised to cover all the costs of staff, medical equipment etc.
Didier's inspiration for the Foundation came after a close friend's son died from Leukaemia and it gained impetus after the stadium disaster in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2009, when the collapse of a wall killed nineteen fans. Visiting a local hospital after this event and seeing the poor conditions gave Didier the motivation for the hospital.
He said "I have seen much suffering throughout Africa, especially with my work with the UN, but when I visited a hospital in Abidjan earlier this year, I was shocked by the terrible conditions I saw. We hear about all the incurable diseases, but these kids are just as likely to die from diabetes because there is no insulin available. It was then I decided the Foundation's first project should be to build and fund a hospital giving people basic healthcare and a chance just to stay alive."
In December 2010 the Foundation held its second charity dinner which was attended by many names from the worlds of sport and music. The evening raised £300,000 towards the hospital in Abidjan. These funds will be used to begin construction on the hospital. The money raised will also be used to purchase the essential equipment and medicines required for the day-to-day running of the hospital.
For the second year running, Pepsi were one of the sponsors of the event. In addition to their sponsorship, they ran a twitter campagin which resulted in them donating a further $100,000 towards the Foundation.
For more information please visitwww.thedidierdrogbafoundation.com.
PUBLICATIONS:
Please click on publication to see entire article.
