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Tribune News Network
Doha
Generation Amazing, a key 2022 FIFA World Cup legacy project, has reached a significant human and social legacy milestone by launching its first football pitch in India.
Located next to a school in Jamsher, Punjab State, the pitch will host Generation Amazing's football for development programmes. It will also provide a safe and sustainable space to play to more than 20,000 young people.
"We are proud to inaugurate our first Generation Amazing football pitch in India and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Jamsher and the surrounding areas," said Afraa al Noaimi, acting executive director of Generation Amazing.
Noaimi added,"Our football for development programme has made significant strides since it was launched in India earlier this year across a number of locations and cities, and this pitch opening will provide a tangible social and human legacy to this area for future generations.
"We encourage all the young girls and boys in the area to join our programme and make the most of the opportunities to learn life skills and sporting values through football."
This is the 27th football pitch to be launched by Generation Amazing following similar projects in Lebanon, Syria, Nepal, Pakistan and Jordan.
For 22 year-old Generation Amazing youth ambassador Baljinder Kaur, the pitch in Jamsher represents an important opportunity to grow the football for development programmes she helps to implement.
"This pitch will give a chance to more young people, especially girls, to play football," said Kaur, who became a Generation Amazing ambassador earlier this year.
With the support of Generation Amazing, Kaur runs programmes for 95 children at a school in Jamsher. She said the scheme is helping to advocate gender equality among members of her community.
"I believe I was selected as a Generation Amazing youth ambassador to motivate and support young girls in my community. In the future, I want to continue helping children, while ensuring girls have equal opportunities," said Kaur.
The new pitch has been developed in collaboration with local partner YFC Rurka Kalan a community organisation that uses sport to mobilise large communities. The pitch will support the organisation's various programmes, which have benefited more than 6,800 people so far this year.
Generation Amazing is currently present in five locations in India, as well as seven countries across the Middle East and Asia. The programme has benefited more than 250,000 people since its launch in 2009, and aims to benefit a million people by 2022.
