Norbert Neuser, a member of the European Parliament from Germany, visited Santiniketan for the first time earlier this week.

The 70-year-old parliamentarian spent most of his time at Ghosaldanga village, 8km from the varsity town, where for the last year Neuser’s Kick for Help foundation has been providing training and equipment to 84 youths free of cost.

Neuser said he was pleased to see the activities of the foundation.

“Sports can be an important element in developing policies that will assist youths. It helps build their personality and confidence, and helps them communicate with others,” said Neuser, who is a member of the European Parliament’s committee of development and foreign affairs.

Watching a match at the Ghosaldanga grounds with his friend and collaborator Martin Kampchen — a Tagore scholar and known face in Santiniketan — earlier this week, Neuser said his dream was to promote football as a way of empowering and uplifting rural populations in developing countries like India and Africa.

“I have also started a project in Kenya before this, where I help promote football among women,” Neuser said, adding that he had learned of Ghosaldanga and its tribal population from Kampchen, a social worker and resident of Santiniketan for the past 35 years.

Kampchen is advisor to the Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adivasi Trust, which does social work for the tribal populations of 14 villages in the area.

“Martin’s father was my teacher, that is how we became friends. After I learned from him about the tribal population in Ghosaldanga, I thought to do something about them,” Neuser added.

Neuser has funded around Rs 20 lakh for the equipment and facilities for his foundation at Ghosaldanga. Last year, they hired two coaches — graduates of Visva-Bharati’s physical education department.

Kampchen said this week that he was overwhelmed by his friend’s gesture, and by his visit.

“His visit here has inspired many of the young footballers. I am sure many more children will join the sport with his help,” Kampchen said.

Budinath Tudu, an 18-year-old tribal youth from Ghosaldanga, said: “We are really happy, as we have been practising football regularly with the help of our coaches. We have also got free equipment like shoes, jerseys and balls.”