Doha: Al Sadd Sports Club launched an initiative aimed at raising awareness about healthy eating habits among youth yesterday. The ‘healthy neighbourhood programme’, which begins with officials and athletes of the club visiting elementary schools today, is part of Al Sadd’s social responsibility program. “As a club, we take care of ourselves, and we want to create awareness among the youth through our new programme,” Jassim Al Rumaihi, Al Sadd General Secretary, said during a press conference yesterday. “The programme exemplifies the important role sports clubs can play in guiding society towards a healthy lifestyle.” “We have established ourselves as a socially responsible club, thus, we bring forth a greater determination to propagate this message within the community,” Al Rumaihi added. “The commencement of a district health programme will be implemented in two schools within close proximity of Al Sadd for this season,” Al Sadd CSR Ambassador, Wesam Rizik, said. He also introduced ‘healthy meal boxes’ during the press conference, which are especially designed to attract children towards a healthy lifestyle. “Once four boxes are collected together it will form the shape of a football, which represents the concept of teamwork and aiming for a particular goal, similar to that of a football game,” Rizik said. With an initial target of 100 children, lunch boxes consisting of a sandwich, juice or milk, yoghurt, fruit and a healthy baked dessert will be distributed in schools including Omar bin Al Khattab and Al Bayyan Independent School, among others. Yet for the most part, the club will surprise children with their visit. While explaining the details of the visit in schools, Rizik said: “The meals will be distributed via an animated, colourful bus designed to catch the attention of the children. We will also leave them with three educational posters, which will serve as a motivational reminder to choose healthy eating habits and exercise, just like Al Sadd athletes!” Al Sadd Sports Club is the first professional club in the GCC region to adopt a social responsibility programme via the leading sport CSR agency “IMPACT CSR Solutions” — a system put in play with a strategic aspect entitled “180 Degree Change”. The Peninsula

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