Prince Harry has spoken of his desire to expand the work of his Sentebale charity from helping disadvantaged children in a single African country to carrying out projects worldwide.
The Prince said once his organization was ready for the challenge he wanted to take its concept to other nations. The charity works supporting established groups, charities and bodies in the southern African country of Lesotho with funds or managerial help.
The Prince’s comments came after a fundraising polo match staged in Brazil in aid of Sentebale.
“It’s not just about Lesotho,” said Harry. "I understand there are disadvantaged kids all around the world that have no hope and need help, including in the UK and Brazil. I understand I’m privileged to be in the position I’m in.
“My ambition – well, I hope that’s what we’re doing in Lesotho – once we are professional enough, and that may take a couple of years or a few more years to go, we hope to expand across the world with the concept we’re using in Lesotho. Because it’s a small country, we feel that we can make a difference and use that concept around the world helping more disadvantaged kids.”
Speaking about what motivates him, Prince Harry said: “The most important thing in life for me is kids. I don’t know if I got that from my mum or my father but I just have this massive kid inside me and I have that connection with kids and I always will.”
Prince Harry visited a Rio de Janeiro favela on Saturday and saw community projects helping impoverished families.
He said his visit to the Complexos, outside Rio, had been “a fantastic example of what this country has done for disadvantaged kids”.
He added: “I saw great things happening there and this indeed further inspires me to try and help make a difference in a similar way through Sentebale.”
This week’s polo match was at Haras Larissa – a boutique hotel set on a working ranch and stud farm in the heart of the Sao Paulo state countryside. Prince Harry is an accomplished polo player like his father, The Prince of Wales, and grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh, and regularly plays in competitive and charity matches.
The Prince led his Sentebale team against a St. Regis side and was involved in an action-packed game in front of an audience who sipped Champagne as they watched.
During the game The Prince was spotted riding his pony at breakneck speed as he raced across the field to make a tackle or ahead to attack. At one point with an open goal undefended 40 metres in front of him, he missed the target and let out a howl of disgust at himself. When one of the opposing players had a nasty fall, Prince Harry immediately jumped off his polo pony to help tend to the man who later re-joined the action.
Sentebale finally won the game 6-3 and Prince Harry was presented with a trophy to mark the win – the third time the cup match has been staged.
Source: PrinceOfWales.gov.uk
