FC Barcelona and Brazilian international José Edmilson explained how the FC Barcelona Foundation and the Edmilson Foundation will join forces and work together to help poor children in Edmilson´s home town Taquaritinga.


Edmilson's is know as being deeply religious and for his commitment to help the people in need.


Barca TV: What exactly is the Foundation?


Edmilson: "The Edmilson Foundation is a dream I've had for some time, since I began to play for Sao Paulo, then for Lyon and then Barcelona. Since I was a child, I've had the idea of helping the children of my town. Ive been working hard on this for many years".


Barca TV: How will the Edmilson Foundation and the FC Barcelona Foundation work together?


Edmilson: "This is a project to give children a way forward, to give them an apprenticeship so that they can work in the future. Together with the FC Barcelona Foundation, we will give them the opportunity to work for sport so that the children have a dream and can become footballers, lawyers, dances. I have the dream to carry out this project so that the children can go out and have a better future".


Barca TV: What do you think of the Barca Foundation?


Edmilson: "It's important because it tries to help children and people in need. There's the collaboration with UNICEF and other aid projects. This union is very important as is the work we do in the Edmilson Foundation. Barca is a well known club and this will open many doors to us".


Barca TV: What's your opinion about Barca working with the FC Barcelona Foundation?


Edmilson: "I think it's important, mainly for needy children. FCB has demonstrated this with the agreement with UNICEF and with the projects it already has with the Foundation, helping not only with work in Africa but also in other places in the world. I think this union with FC Barcelona is very important because Barca is known throughout the world and doors open for us. People see that we are doing a job in Brazil and that it doesnt consist always of giving more and more money. They believe in us and mainly in Brazil. We want to be transparent and show them that the work of the Edmilson Foundation is serious, and I hope there can be more in other places".


Barca TV: It's hoped to create a training centre for young people in difficult circumstances. The centre will be in your home town of Taquaritinga in Sao Paolo. What are the social problems there?


Edmilson: "I lived there with my parents until I was 15. Then I left to play football. Some of my friends are dead and others are in a bad way due to drugs and alcohol. Some of them are already married and divorced. There's a lot of delinquency in the town. There are 12 year olds who are already dealing drugs. And it's a very poor town. There's a lot of economic need. Those parents who are working earn very little: its very difficult to pay for a child's education. We want to do this job to get the children off the streets and into school in the Foundation so that they can follow a course".


Barca TV: You carry out a number of activities to give psychological support but sport is an important support for children's development. It can be a good way out, can't it?


Edmilson: "Of course, it always has been. Sport, and I'm speaking about myself here, has helped me a lot. And not just me. I believe it has opened many doors for all the players who come from Brazil as well as Africa. I have this project in my heart and the most important thing is, that independently of what the children do, I'm doing it from the heart and with the desire to be a winner in life, which is the most important thing. The truth is that football has a huge following and my image could be an example. We are working in sport and in everything else because society doesn't just need sportspeople, it needs trained men and women with the capacity to be important within society".


Barca TV: Do footballers have to give an example?


Edmilson: "Always. And I'm not doing this to get into politics. There are people who say that Edmilson is the politician of Taquaritinga and thats why I'm appearing now. I don't have that ambition. Independently of being a footballer, I'm doing this from the heart, for a better future for the children. I think that most people with money can do this and help others".


Barca TV: Some of your team-mates also have foundations and collaborate in other causes but you also have a lot of work as footballers. What do you think about Barca's start to the season?


Edmilson: "I think it's always important to win and pick up points in the league. You have to be consistent and were going very well. The team's in good form in the league. We have a tough match in London, another one in the Nou Camp and then in Madrid. The month of October is full of difficult matches and I think the squad in general is getting used to the rotations. The players are relaxed. There's a lot of confidence because we won the Champions League last season. We'll be strong this season. We started well with the Spanish Super Cup then we lost the European Super Cup and people started to say we weren't in good form. The main thing is for us to grow bit by bit. The main thing is that the players with the most weight, such as Ronnie, Deco and Samuel, who will soon be back with us, are on the way up. That's a calming factor".


Barca TV: Is it hard to get a place in the starting line-up?


Edmilson: "I think that Barca has more than 11 first team regulars because all the players are good enough to be so. Thats very important for the Club. When you have so many players of such high quality you have to compete at a high level and that's very difficult. But we have a very focussed group, great players, and we need all of them".


Barca TV: How's the knee infection that stopped you joining up with Brazil?


Edmilson: "It's nothing, just an inflammation. I have to do some special training, following a recovery programme for the arthroscopy I had last summer. I think I'll be ready to join the squad for the Sevilla match. I have to take it easy in training due to the inflammation, but Im relaxed. I think I'll be 100% fit".