Sightsavers Ireland - International Charity

Our Work

Lee and the pupils of Akrapong School for the Blind urge world leaders not to score an own goal and fulfil their promise of giving everyone an education. © Albert Ampem Owusu-Ansah / Sightsavers

1GOAL for blind footballers

Paralympic footballer Lee Greatbatch recently visited Sightsavers-supported Akrapong School for the Blind in Ghana, as part of our work for 1GOAL: Education for All.

1GOAL, part of the Global Campaign for Education, a coalition of which Sightsavers is a member, sees some of the world’s greatest footballers, FIFA, non-governmental organisations, teachers’ unions and the public joining together to ask world leaders to stay onside and keep their promise of giving everyone an education by 2015.

The next Alex Ferguson

Having developed his blind football skills at St Vincent’s Residential School for the Blind in Liverpool, Lee has already played for Great Britain at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 and has high hopes of starring at the 2010 World Blind Football Championship and the 2012 games in London.

A free-scoring striker, Lee can also turn his hand to coaching, so whilst his beloved Stoke City continue to menace defences across the Premiership, Lee took time out of his busy training schedule to teach the children of Akropong School for the Blind a trick or two, and help enhance their football skills.

The day was a big hit with 12-year-old Daniel Nkrumah: “Football is my favourite game! My father has bought me a bell-ball and I have joined a football team in my home town”. Daniel lost his sight four years ago following an accident. This affected his mobility and his independence, but he is learning Braille, thriving at school and aiming high:

“My goal is to play blind football internationally. I also want to be a chief justice in the future.”

Twice voted Stoke’s Sports Personality of the Year, Lee also runs his own business, BizAbilityUK which provides disability and equality training and inspirational speakers, and is involved with a number of charities including the Guide Dogs Association and the Wonder Years Centre of Excellence. He is also working on trying to get more blind people involved in football in the UK.

Click here to find out more about blind football, including how the game is played.

If you'd like to help us secure an education for the 75 million children currently missing out, please visit www.join1goal.org