Doha, Qatar, 14 May 2013 - The global ambassador of Ooredoo, the football superstar Lionel 'Leo' Messi, is ready to make the dreams of the children of the world come to life, as he visits Qatar to mark the beginning of a new global initiative this month.

Ooredoo is committed to improving the quality of life of communities and to stimulating growth, encouraging people to strive and fulfill what they aspire, and especially supporting the young people to reach for the sky and make their dreams come true. Ooredoo  is working together with Messi and the Leo Messi Foundation in a number of crucial projects that drive innovation in various operational areas of Ooredoo. The first initiative will be focused on improving the welfare and developing the young generation.
The football superstar will divulge his plans in a special event hosted by Ooredoo on the upcoming 20 May 2013, and also will participate in various activities in Qatar to promote sports and meet with a number of communities.
As part of the joint commitment between Ooredoo and Messi, that is to give a chance for the young people, Messi will conduct a special football training session in Doha, with kids chosen from various regions where Ooredoo operates.
Lionel Messi said, "I want to come again to Qatar and team up with Ooredoo in various initiatives to improve the odds for the young generation across the globe to succeed. In and outside of football, I always love to do something different for the society and bring happiness to the children."
The children delegations consist of kids hailing from Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, Algiers, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and Maldives-countries where Ooredoo is actively involved in the development of the young generation.
Five kids from Indonesia participating in the event come from Jakarta, Bandung, Malang and Madura. All the kids that have been selected are highly talented and enjoy football, and have a dream to change the course of their future for the better. For some kids, a journey to Doha is their first trip overseas, and everyone is so happy to get the chance and be inspired directly by Messi.
Members of the delegation include a young Palestinian girl who has won an international writing contest, a boy from Baghdad, Iraq, who has surmounted the limitations due to his losing one foot to achieve his dreams, a young, famous Indonesian actor that enjoys playing football, would-be sport stars from North Africa, and other kids-with equally inspiring stories of their lives-from all the regions where Ooredoo operates. Ooredoo sponsored these children delegations and partnered with local children organizations in Qatar to attract the young generation to participate in the event.

Aside from meeting their football idol, these children also had the chance to visit various tourist destinations in Qatar, including the Islamic Art Museum and the Katara Cultural Sanctuary.
Ooredoo appointed Messi as its global brand ambassador in Barcelona in February 2013. Ooredoo and Messi share the belief that the young generation must be given a chance to get the best things in life. Thus, Ooredoo and the Leo Messi Foundation have planned several initiatives to be launched to promote social development across the Middle East, North Africa, and South East Asia, by utilizing cellular technology.



About the Leo Messi Foundation
Leo Messi Foundation was the brainchild of Leo Messi, an initiative supported by his family which focused on ensuring that kids all around the world obtain equal opportunity to make their dreams come true.

Since 2007, the Leo Messi Foundation has been striving to fulfill its mission for the sake of the children and teenagers throughout the world that are stricken with certain diseases. Both on the local and international level, the Foundation's projects are focused on the aspects of education and health, the most prominent being the campaigns against cancer and Chagas' disease.

"I have fulfilled my dream to become a football player, and I want you to know that I have worked hard to be able to reach this state, and I continue my toil to become even better at what I do. Today, I want to use all my efforts and my success to help the children in need, for every single day I am thoroughly moved by their smile, knowing that there is still hope for them to be happy. This was what triggered me and my family to establish the Leo Messi Foundation. And I will continue to work hard to make these children happy with the same spirit and dedication that has driven me to reach for my dreams in the football world."
www.fundacionleomessi.org
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