From Football Pitch to Classroom: Beckham's Indian Educational Mission
On Thursday, Sir David Beckham traded his familiar footballing grounds for a school in Visakhapatnam, India. The former England captain, now 50, was not at his old school, Chingford County High, but was instead representing the Qatari-based foundation, Education Above All. This organisation is dedicated to providing quality education and employment opportunities for children in impoverished communities worldwide.
A Warm Welcome and Hands-On Activities
Upon his arrival, Beckham was greeted with a traditional welcome dance, which he shared on his Instagram. He immersed himself in the school's activities, demonstrating his impressive football skills with a one-touch tutorial and even juggling a ball on his shoulders. The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador also participated in a tree-planting ceremony within the school garden, where pupils showed him how to use digital identifiers to label the new saplings.
Observing Educational Impact and Future Projects
The primary purpose of Beckham's four-hour visit was to witness the effects of Education Above All's collaborative Project-Based Learning (PBL) programme. This initiative, managed with the partner Mantra4Change, seeks to improve education in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Nagaland. Beckham quietly observed student-led discussions and toured an exhibition of projects created by the children in English, Mathematics, and Science. His visit also included time in the school library, where he joined a reading circle.
P. Madhavi Latha, secretary of MJPAPBCWREIS, expressed great joy at his visit, stating it was a reminder that 'extraordinary things can happen' with the right dedication. This educational endeavour follows the recent announcement of Beckham's involvement as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, supporting the design of The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, highlighting his growing passion for gardening and nature.
