Children win the Champions League Final

Dante, who plays in defence for Bayern Munich Football Club, tells why family is so important to him. The 29-year-old Brazilian has become an SOS Ambassador after frequent visits to the SOS Children’s Village in his home town, Salvador de Bahía. In advance of Saturday’s Champions League Final he said; “I come from a modest background myself. I’ve made it, and I want to help other children do the same".

“I grew up in a very poor area. My childhood was difficult, as it was for most children in that area. We couldn’t afford many things we wanted, but the whole family pulled together and worked hard to help each other. That is how I learned about the value of strong family ties and helping each other out.

About three years ago, a football fan asked me to sign a jersey so he could put it up for auction and send the proceeds to the SOS Children’s Village in Salvador de Bahía. I thought to myself that I had to find out more about this. At the earliest opportunity I went to see the village. There, I knew immediately that I wanted to help those children and the organisation. “Family is everything to me,” he says proudly.

An SOS Ambassador is someone who helps children

Before departing Munich for London’s Wembley Stadium earlier this week, Dante devoted some of his time to young SOS Children’s Villages football fans. One of whom remarked; “An SOS Ambassador is someone who helps children. When people see a face they recognise, like Dante’s, then they’ll think: If he’s doing it, then it must be good!”

Asked whether he thinks the children of Salvador de Bahía will be rooting for him on Saturday, he laughs, “of course! The children and also the grown-ups of Salvador de Bahía support me very much, especially the children of the SOS Children’s Village. The last time I was there, I played football with the kids. I hope we can win the final; it would make the children so happy! Everyone at home will be watching. All the children of Salvador de Bahía will be overjoyed, especially the children at SOS Children’s Villages!”

Canadians wishing to help vulnerable children are encouraged to sponsor a child, sponsor a Village or make a one-time donation. Your support will change the lives of orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children. Please help today.