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The hardman known as Concrete Ron turns as soft as putty when he lands in India.

Ron Vlaar, the Aston Villa and Holland defender, has spent part of his summer in India, working with the Yojana Foundation.

In remote areas of Bangalore the team from Yojana, a Dutch charitable project, work to transform the lives of children brought up in districts where problems such as child labour and girls being denied basic education are widespread.

Vlaar’s contract at Villa expires on Wednesday and he is the subject of interest from Manchester United, Turkish club Besiktas and several other clubs.

But while some of his Premier League colleagues have been hiring private yachts at £70,000 a-week for their holidays, Vlaar, 30, took a backpack to the sub-continent.

(Image: Rex)

After the humiliation of Villa’s FA Cup final thrashing against Arsenal , a season bedevilled by injuries and the prospect of sorting out a new contract or moving on, Vlaar has savoured his trip to India.

He said: “Focussing on the problems of these kids is something for a good cause and it helps me take my mind off my own troubles.

“Yojana are fighting against children being employed and exploited in India. I have been an ambassador for them for more than 10 years. I was visiting all kinds of projects and I connect with the kids.

“I really needed to get away. My body was absolutely knackered. My desire to play all the time is so big.

“I thought I had got my fair portion of injuries last season. So I decided to get my mind on totally different things. I jumped on the plane to India.

“I feel that I have my best season still to come. I am ready to rise to an even higher level.

“I can’t tell you how hard I work in training so that I can be really strong in every game.

“This is why the frustration in my mind took over a few times when I suffered a new injury a few times.

“But I know I’m lucky to be a professional footballer.”

The father of two boys explained his involvement in the charity work. “The people from Yojana approached me and asked me if I would be their ambassador.

(Image: Ron Vlaar)

“As footballers we get many invitations, so I wanted to read about them first. I received lots of information and I became really enthusiastic. I wanted to help these kids. A child should not be working.

“Everyone in the Foundation works for free. We’re not just sending money so they can build a school. We go out to India and find people who really deal with the heart of the problems. It is not the easy way, but it works.

“It is fantastic that I can help lots of children. In many areas kids don’t have to go to work all day anymore. We have managed to convince their parents that their kids must go to school. Education is more important than working for a child.

“The next step is improving their education. I go into a village and I just see kids repeating anything the teacher says. We tell them that kids must learn to think.

“We have launched two discovery centres. We also help them get better teachers.

(Image: Ron Vlaar)

“I was in India for a while and I get really emotional by all the things I see,” he explained.

“We were in a help centre in Davangere. Kids were singing for me, they gave me flowers.

“Child labourers are getting proper education so they can go back into normal schools.

“The smiles on the faces of these kids, motivates me with everything I do in my life. Just the idea that I can help them get a better future, that they can have dreams again, is heartwarming.

“I see that kids have also started to play netball and judo. These are sports for both boys and girls. I see how all these kids find new joy in their life."