I'm really impressed with the community here because it's the driver. And they are so committed to improving their own village, helping their kids for a better future and making it sustainable at the end of the day. That's most important that this is an ongoing thing and hopefully forever.
Roger Federer is one of the world's most famous athletes. But when he visited a preschool in Malawi, students treated him like a member of the class, creating his own name tag (spelled "Rodger Federer"), playing with the hair on his arms and head and dancing with the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
"I'm so happy and emotional that I can see a pre-school of this quality here in Malawi," said Federer, whose mother, Lynette, is South African. "I must say, it's quite extraordinary, actually. And it makes me really, really happy."
More: Federer Visits Malawi to Launch Children's Program
The kids seemed to enjoy the father of four's visit to the school, which is one of the educational initiatives supported by the Roger Federer Foundation. A school teacher said Federer's presence, in addition to the financial support, is important to the community and shows how much he cares.
"I think why this is very important for us is because Roger has not just been sending money, but he has taken the time to come and see how the project is impacting the children of Malawi. That is important," the teacher said.
Federer said strong community support is vital to sustaining the school and its future.
"I'm really impressed with the community here because it's the driver," Federer said. "And they are so committed to improving their own village, helping their kids for a better future and making it sustainable at the end of the day. That's most important that this is an ongoing thing and hopefully forever."