Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development has launched new social media channels focused on its partnership with FC Barcelona to engage directly with followers and fans. The official channels in Facebook and Twitter aim to raise awareness about the two organizations and bring their fans the shared values and the joint programs that underpin their partnership.

The initial campaigns invite visitors to participate in contests and special promotions offered exclusively to fans of the partnership, where entrants can win tickets to an FCB game at Camp Nou, or select merchandise.

The partnership's Facebook page, available in Catalan, Spanish, Arabic and English, provides detailed information on QF and FCB's latest news, activities, match results and contests. The page also features photo albums on the partnership's participation in international tournaments and events, with insight on upcoming matches and exclusive pictures.

The Facebook page is a destination where fans can post photos, videos and exchange comments about their experiences with the organizations. Students from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar recently attended FCB's match against Sporting Gijon and posted pictures on the QF-FCB partnership page.

The Twitter channel provides more frequent coverage and communication with fans; pushing tweets with pictures on the team's latest news releases and its participation in major tournaments.

Since the creation of the accounts earlier this month, the number of followers around the world has been growing steadily on a daily basis across all channels.

The goal of the social media efforts launched earlier this month is to increase awareness of QF and its partnership with FCB and to provide concrete benefits to fans of the partnership. Both QF and FCB share the same objective to unlock human potential in the community through various projects and programs, with a particular emphasis on the youth. The partnership is an opportunity for two organizations who share the same values to work together and develop joint programs aimed at helping to improve lives, through the power of sport and football in particular.

The partnership is the result of a sponsorship agreement reached between Qatar Sports Investment and FCB signed at the end of 2010, bringing increased focus on sports and youth development to Qatar.

Together, the organizations have plans to create joint programs that promote education and sport, encourage a healthy lifestyle, and bring communities together.