Sitting in the company of Rory McIlroy it can be easy to forget he’s just 21-years of age.
Sure, he enjoys a lifestyle fellow 21-year olds could only dream of – fame, fortune, fancy cars, a palatial abode and most important a golf game that lights up any tournament.
And while much was written about McIlroy’s Masters melt down, no one can deny he did conduct himself admirably.
Rory McIlroy reveals he now wants to visit Sri Lanka in his role with UNICEF.
But listening to McIlroy speak of his experiences in earthquake ravaged Haiti was one of his most enlightening conferences to be a part of for some time.
Earlier this year McIlroy agreed to become a UNICEF Ambassador.
There’s no financial reward connected to his ambassadorship nor does he seek publicity in his role.
But how many 21-year olds could sit before the world’s golfing press and speak openingly of their experiences in Haiti?
The Caribbean island is not a golfing destination nor would the great majority living on the island ever have heard of McIlroy as one of the world’s top-10 ranked golfers.
But it didn’t bother McIlroy as he was glad to spend time on Haiti ahead of his U.S. Open appearance.
A young Haitian child delights meeting Rory McIlroy
“When I got to Haiti the kids I meant didn’t have a clue who I was,” he said.
“But what struck me was the spirit of the children as they are so resilient.
“It was almost as if they were oblivious to what was around them. Once they went in the school, they were happy, they were singing songs.
“They were getting educated about simple hygiene and sanitation. There was a huge outbreak of cholera a couple of months ago down there. So it was educating children.”
McIlroy spent a couple of days in Haiti ahead of his U.S. Open appearance.
And after walking off the pristine Congressional golf in the leafy Maryland township of Bethesda, McIlroy recalled the sights of Haiti that was hit by catastrophic earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7 on the scale on 12th January, 2010.
Some 316,000 were killed and another 46,000 injured.
The Haitian Government estimated 250,000 residences and some 30,000 commercial buildings either collapsed or suffered serious damage.
“I thought I had some perspective before going to Haiti but actually being there just gives you a completely different view on the world and the game that you play,” he said.
“It just makes you feel so lucky that I’m able just to sit here and speak about the normal things that everyone does that you take for granted.
Rory McIlroy brings some joy to the children of earthquake ravaged Haiti.
“Haiti was a great experience for me and it was great to go down with UNICEF and see all the work that they’re doing with funding and helping build schools and maternity clinics and providing food and water for people down there.
“It’s still a country in a very bad state, but it’s definitely going in the right direction, and I was so pleased to see the work they’re doing in that regard.”
No matter where McIlroy travelled about Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas there was no escaping scenes of utter devastation.
“I remember driving past the Presidential Palace, and the dome on the top of it is just hanging off,” he said.
“It’s just a mess. I’ve got a picture of it on my phone.
“I was just thinking to myself if they can’t even repair the Presidential Palace then they can’t do anything. They just need so much help.
Rory McIlroy to be praised for his work with UNICEF.
“It was nice to go and see the work that had been done with a few of the schools that had been built but sort of driving in between visits to schools and maternity clinics you saw all the real Haiti and what those people have to go through every day.
“It’s definitely not a nice thing to see.
“It gives you a huge sense of just being so fortunate and just doing normal things every day.
“Even the sights of street lights and travelling on smooth roads, as they are things you take for granted.
“But the Haitians don’t have that luxury, and they might not have that for the next 15 or 20 years.
“And it’s not just Haiti as there’s countries all over the world that are having the same problems.
“It’s just great to see so many people willing to help.”
And McIlroy’s revealed he’s looking forward to returning to Haiti and also that he intends visiting Sri Lanka later this year during the course of the end of the European Race to Dubai season.
“I want to continue my work with UNICEF so much so I am thinking of going to Sri Lanka at the end of the year to do some work out there, also,” he said.
“Also I definitely want to get back to Haiti in the next year or so and see what it was like when I was there and see the progress that they’ve made.
“The reward for me is about raising awareness.
“It’s definitely a good thing for me because I get to see the great work UNICEF carries out and it just puts everything in perspective in my life.”
McIlroy’s to be applauded. He’s is great credit to his parents Gerry and Rosie and he’s a great credit to the game of golf.
Hopefully, the ancient club-and-ball game will soon reward one of golf’s more talented individuals with its highest reward.
