Manchester City and Etihad Airways have joined forces to help young leaders around the world tackle social issues in their community through the power of football.
The Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit welcomed more than 70 young leaders from City’s global network of community projects to the City Football Academy on the Etihad Campus.
Young people came from 18 global cities to participate in a variety of classroom and pitch-based workshops to equip them with the skills and confidence to deliver life-changing football sessions in their local communities.
Etihad Airways helped to connect young leaders from 10 cities around the world by flying them to Manchester to join their fellow peers for the summit. It was the first experience of several of the young people involved it was and for several of the participants this was their first experience of international travel.
An intensive training programme in the Peak District was put on for some of the returning participants from Manchester, New York, Melbourne, Beijing, Bandung, Kolkata, Sao Paulo and Mexico City.
The group, aged between 16-30 years old, are currently delivering community football projects addressing a range of social issues affecting young people, including gang crime, substance abuse, HIV / AIDS, obesity and creating safe spaces for children to play football.
Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit
Omar Berrada, Chief Operating Officer for Manchester City FC commented: “We are extremely proud that our community footprint continues to grow and develop every year both here in Manchester and across the globe.
“The Young Leaders Summit epitomises how football can be used to tackle a range of social issues and bring people together.
“We are delighted to be working with Etihad Airways, SHB, SAP and Nexen Tire to connect our young leaders and give them the opportunity to share their experiences and develop new skills.
“Using the Club’s community philosophy and years of coaching experience, we are privileged to be able to equip the young leaders with the tools they need to go out and deliver life changing projects back home in their local communities.”
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Vice President, Medical Services & CSR, Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways is committed to contributing to, and connecting communities around the world. We are honoured to be able to fly young leaders from all over the world into Manchester, so they can be part of the Cityzens Giving Young Leader Summit.
“This is another example of how the power of football can be used to address a wide range of social issues and give young people new opportunities and a brighter future.”
In addition to practical based sessions on event and project management, safeguarding and monitoring, and evaluation, the participants also took part in master classes led by former Manchester City player, Paul Dickov and City Football Group’s Leadership Team.
On the final day, the young people put all their newly developed skills and knowledge into practice as they organised and delivered a football festival for over 200 school children from the local area.