French President Emmanuel Macron greets children as he visits a recreation center in Moisson, east of Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. French Pr...
French President Emmanuel Macron greets children as he visits a recreation center in Moisson, east of Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron visits children at a charity holiday program outside Paris to call attention to the problem of families who can't afford to take summer vacation. (Philippe Wojazer/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron greets while PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, left, stands behind him as he attends at a charity holiday program eve...
French President Emmanuel Macron greets while PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, left, stands behind him as he attends at a charity holiday program event in Moisson, east of Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron is welcoming the likely arrival of Brazilian soccer star Neymar at Paris-Saint Germain in a record $262 million deal. (Philippe Wojazer/Pool Photo via AP)
MOISSON, France (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron played ball and had lunch with children at a charity holiday program west of Paris to call attention to the problem of families who can't afford summer vacation.
While France is famed for its tourist sites and generous vacation benefits, an estimated one-third of French children stay home in the summer for lack of other options.
Macron spent hours Thursday with children at the recreational center of Moisson, where children from poor suburbs can practice sailing on the Seine river, and play soccer, rugby and other sports for free.
Every year, the association Secours populaire helps 50,000 disadvantaged children to get at least one day of vacation by taking them to the sea or mountains, and helps others benefit from weeklong programs in centers like Moisson.