Patrick Vieira visited school students in Dakar on Friday to lend his support in accordance with his role at Western Union.

He is an ambassador for the PASS initiative, which helps under-privileged children get the education they require.

Having grown up in Senegal, Vieira is fully behind the UNICEF-supported project and was happy to have a kick about with the kids.

Shows his skills: Patrick Vieira enjoys a kick about with Senegalese students during a trip to Dakar

Support: Vieira is an ambassador of the PASS initiative programme of Western Union

Thankful: The Senegalese-born retired player wants to do all he can to help under-privileged children

‘Where I come from, many children face challenges that prevent them from completing school,’ explained Vieira

‘Football was my ticket to success, but for the vast majority of young people education is the key that allows them to become whatever they want to be.

‘What’s so impactful about this initiative is that what players are doing on the pitch is being translated off it, by Western Union, into funding that will benefit students, teachers and schools across the world.’

Western Union, a global payment service company, are hoping to use both its position as a Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League and the power of football to deliver much-needed funding for secondary school education for disadvantaged young people in Senegal

The enrollment rate for free primary school is 94 percent*. However, last year, just 58 percent* of children in Senegal enrolled in junior secondary school (grades 7-10), and only 29 percent* are enrolled in senior secondary school (grades 11-13).