Sotheby’s is to stage a fundraising auction in February in support of a major charity initiative to help educate underprivileged children in the Third World.

To be held on February 12 in London, UK, the auction forms part of the ‘1 in 11’ campaign launched by FC Barcelona Foundation, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to extend educational opportunities to marginalised children in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal, with the goal of expanding to more countries.  

The auction will feature donated works by 17 renowned artists including Takashi Murakami, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Richard Serra and Shirin Neshat.

Hirst and Murakami have created specially commissioned works of art featuring football star Lionel Messi.

Messi, who plays for FC Barcelona, is also a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Lionel Messi Foundation. 

Murakami designed the campaign logo.   

Globally, one in 11 primary school-age children – or 58 million out of 650 million children – are out of school. The majority are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable: children living in areas affected by conflict; children in extreme poverty; children with disabilities; children from indigenous communities. In addition, in many schools, sports programming does not exist, even though studies have shown that including sports in school curricula can inspire children to attend and stay in school, lead to better physical health, and help to improve their grades.    

Murakami said:  “I’m delighted to be able to support the ‘1 in 11’ campaign through donating my artwork to the auction and designing the global campaign logo. I know the money raised by the campaign is going to help some of the most marginalised and vulnerable children across the world.   

“’1 in 11’ will inspire the world that integrating sport and play into education can be the catalyst to unlock a child’s potential”.  


1 IN 11 CAMPAIGN  

Earlier this month, lending their voices, and their athletic ability, to ‘1 in 11’, Messi and international tennis champion and Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Serena Williams launched the #1 in 11 campaign film and ‘Keep Ups’ challenge – challenging people to  keep a ball up in the air for at least eleven touches.  

Through the ‘Keep Ups’ challenge, Messi and Williams are inviting their fans and followers to join, donate to the campaign and share their own ‘Keep Ups’ via social media and at www.1in11.org.     

Messi said:  “I’m supporting the ‘1 in 11’ campaign because I believe every child has the right to fulfil their potential and realise their dreams. Education is fundamental to this, but millions of children across the world are out of school and not getting the start in life they are entitled to.  

Williams said:  “In many countries we take it for granted that every child has the right to receive a quality education, but ‘1 in 11’ children around the world do not enjoy that right – and without it, may never reach their full potential,” said Williams.  “We need to kick start global progress and get that number down to zero, so every child has the chance to learn.”  

Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake said: “Every child has the right to learn, to play, and to grow – and the ‘1 in 11’ campaign will help more children do so. We are delighted to work together with FC Barcelona and ROTA to get more children into the classroom and improve the quality of learning they receive there.”  

ROTA Director Essa Al Mannai said:  “ROTA is extremely honoured to take part in the ‘1 in 11’ campaign with UNICEF and FC Barcelona Foundation.  This campaign will further ROTA’s vision of a world in which all young people have access to the education and training they need in order to realise their full potential and shape the development of their communities.  Through ‘1 in 11’, we will be able to work with our partners towards achieving the highest level of impact in the lives of out of school children.”  

Since 1994, the FC Barcelona Foundation has developed and supported projects which use sport to help build positive attitudes and values in children and adolescents. The foundation is supported by the club, its players and coaching staff.  

ROTA is a non-governmental organisation within the framework of Qatar Foundation - a private non-profit organization founded in 1995. Qatar Foundation is built on the principle that a nation's greatest resource is the potential of its people, and it aims to develop this internationally through progressive education, research and community welfare. 

Unicef promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child. Together with its partners, it works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.