Kaká accepts ambassadorial role

Brazilian star Kaká, who helped AC Milan lift the Serie A title last season, has been appointed as the United Nations world food programme's youngest ambassador against hunger.

'Hope to hungry'
Kaká, who was also a member of Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning squad in Korea/Japan, will use his profile as a successful international sportsman to highlight the crisis of global hunger. "It's a real honour to help the WFP team rid the world of hunger," said Kaká at a press conference in Milan's San Siro stadium. "I owe a lot to football. Now I'd like to give something back and bring hope to hungry kids less fortunate than myself."

Personal experience
Working with WFP will not be the first time that the 22-year-old has come face-to-face with hunger. As a junior player honing his skills at São Paolo FC's celebrated soccer academy, he grew-up with poor, undernourished children from the city's urban slums, each one dreaming of escaping poverty through football.

Prominent role
As the world's biggest food aid agency, WFP is playing a leading role in meeting the first United Nations' millennium development goal for the 21st century: halving the proportion of hungry people around the world by 2015. Brazil is also at the forefront of a global campaign to put the fight against hunger at the top of the international agenda.

Millions affected
Hunger and malnutrition claim more than ten million lives each year - more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. It also stops millions of children growing to their full potential. Eradicating hunger is key to global development.

'Natural ambassadors'
"Footballers are natural ambassadors. Their sport is the most popular in the world, crossing borders and uniting cultures. By visiting our projects and operations, Kaká can use his fame and talent to advocate a better future for the world's 800 million chronically hungry," said John Powell, deputy executive director of WFP's fundraising and communications department.

'Overcome the odds'
The Brazilian international has already asked WFP to organise a field visit to Angola, where the agency's projects are helping over one million former soldiers, refugees and internally-displaced people rebuild their lives. "I hope my own experience with São Paolo and AC Milan can inspire hungry children to believe they can overcome the odds and lead a normal life," said Kaká.

Milan magic
When Kaká left his native Sao Paolo in July 2003 to join AC Milan, few people outside Brazil had heard of the promising young talent despite his World Cup winners' medal. In his first season in Serie A Kaká excelled, scoring ten times in 30 league matches as Milan secured their 17th Scudetto. Not only that but the way he orchestrated his side's midfield with a skill that belied his youth earned comparisons with all-time great Michel Platini of France.

Illustrious contributors
Kaká is the youngest among several international sports stars who are donating their time and celebrity status to help WFP defeat global hunger. Other sportsmen supporting the agency include the world's fastest man over 26 miles, marathon record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya, cricket's record breaking wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka and former rugby World Cup-winning captains Nick Farr-Jones and David Kirk.

Click here to read more about the World Food Programme