UNICEF and Football

UNICEF uses football in various ways, helping children recover from trauma, encouraging their physical and emotional development. It also sees football as a valuable educational tool, getting life-saving information out to young people.

In Kenya, football is being used to save lives. Youth leaders teach HIV/AIDS prevention at halftime breaks - a useful way to raise awarenes about critical health messages. The greatest lessons though are in the game itself in the sheer joy that football gives millions of children . And for that UNICEF is asking every football fan to help make the right to play a reality.

Paolo Maldini, one of the stars of the Italian national team, says "In a world where there are one hundred million children without any rights -not even the right to play-- which side are you on?"

On UNICEF's new football campaign website football supporters can find details on how UNICEF is helping children around the world through football, as well as the opinions of top footballers such as Pele, David Beckham, Paolo Maldini, Luis Figo, El Hadj-Diouf, and George Weah on UNICEF's efforts.