Fernando Alonso and the children of New Delhi

Another unforgettable day is added to Fernando Alonso's diary of memories, linked to his activity as UNICEF ambassador which began in 2005 and which this morning took him to visit a school in Turgapur, an hour south-east of New Delhi, where the Spanish driver is taking part in the seventeenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Protagonist of the "Handwashing Day" campaign, created with the aim of promoting hand washing with soap in a country where every day more than a thousand children die of diarrhea due to the lack of drinking water and basic sanitation, Fernando addressed thus to the enthusiastic audience: “It is very important to explain the importance of this gesture, so simple for us but often impossible in a country where many families do not have a bathroom at home, and sometimes not even a house. And it is even more important to spread this message, especially in schools, because children are a very important part of our society and the solution exists and is neither complicated nor expensive." In fact, statistics reveal that washing hands with soap at critical moments – after using the toilet, before eating and preparing food – can reduce the incidence of diarrhea in children under five by more than forty percent. hundred. “It is very gratifying to be able to support actions aimed at the interest and health of children, but I would feel happier if such a simple gesture could be a right for everyone. Like sport in general, Formula 1 wants to bring the cultures of the countries it visits closer together, creating mutual comparison and the possibility of finding ideas to solve problems."