How fair is it that a soccer player earns millions while a cleaning lady can’t survive doing just one job? That we can drink a glass of water whenever we want, but 2,000 children die every day from diseases transmitted by contaminated water? The question of justice ran through Neven Subotić’s life long before he became aware of it.
In the 1990s, he fled Yugoslavia to Germany with his parents; when they were threatened with deportation, they left for the United States. At 17, he came back to play professional soccer, becoming a champion with Borussia Dortmund and considered one of the best defenders in the league. This led to exhilarating nights, fast cars, and a huge house with a Jacuzzi – but doubts and shame as well.
At the height of his career, Subotić decided to dedicate his passion and money to those forced to live life at the other extreme: Today, his foundation helps to provide access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to schools and communities in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Almost all of his time and most of his salary go towards this work.
