International football star Xavi to inspire refugee children

Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez is preparing for a trip to Jordan, for a kick around with Syrian refugee children in camps in the north of the country.

The Spanish midfielder currently plays with Qatar's al-Sadd Sports Club and will head to the camp this week where he is expected to teach his skills and inspire children caught up in the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

"I'm very excited to be joining this programme, which really inspired me through the fantastic work they are doing with different groups within society," Xavi said according to a statement.

Hernandez also helpes youngsters in Spain and Qatar through his football academy.

He also joined the Generation Amazing programme to help children, migrant workers and refugees, he said.

In August, the footballer donated his nine-metre vessel to Barcelona-based charity Proactivia Open Arms (POA), which is dedicated to saving refugees making the perilous crossing across the Mediterranean Sea.

The yacht is to be auctioned off to fund POA's operations off the coast of Lesbos, Libya and in the wider Mediterranean.

The POA released a video of Xavi handing the yacht over to their organisation on Facebook.

"Thank you, Xavi, gestures like yours, will save many lives," the POA added.

The charity has managed to save the lives of more than 3,000 people off the Libyan coast, according to the Spanish news site ES.

Over 3,000 refugees have died attempting to make the dangerous sea journey into Europe from war-torn regions in North Africa and the Middle East since the start of the year.