Segment 1

VOICEOVER

The chance of walking into Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium before a Barça game is what many children can only dream about. But for these 16 Ugandan soccer players, it became a reality. Excitement was in the air before the cameras and the crowds. A flash meeting with star midfielder Ronaldinho and their story was complete.

ALI ABUJERI

I am very happy to see Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o really with my naked eyes. So, I can't believe that.

VOICEOVER

The Kids League came to Spain to play against FC Barcelona's cadet team. They were invited by the club to highlight how sports can have a real impact on children's lives. Back home in the north of Uganda, these young teenagers belong to the Kids League, a UNICEF-supported project which uses sport to unite children from all over the country. Some have experienced conflict, others have seen violence. Through football, they learn about teamwork, friendship, and leadership.

TREVOR DUDLEY [Country Director, The Kids League]

Football is just, as I say, a positive way of bringing the kids together and then we're able to get across messages about health and education. And we're finding that attendance rates in schools are increasing, and we're finding that children are much more aware about problems such as HIV, AIDS awareness.

VOICEOVER

UNICEF and FC Barcelona signed a five-year partnership deal last year with the aim of supporting programs that reach the most vulnerable children.

JOAN LAPORTA [President, FC Barcelona]

This way of cooperation could give examples to a lot of people that, through football and with organizations like UNICEF, we could improve our society.

VOICEOVER

The Kids League may not have won the friendly match but a surprise meeting with their idol, African football star and Barça player Samuel Eto'o, left a winning smile on everyone's face.