Khalid Tawalbeh
Doha
Generation Amazing Foundation (GA), in collaboration with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), has successfully concluded its Goal 22 Programme.
The event, held in Miami, Florida from June 24 to June 27, marked the culmination of the Goal 22 youth empowerment and sports for development global exchange programme. The programme showcased the transformative power of sport for social change and operated in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Goal 22 Programme consisted of three phases, starting with the GA Youth Festival 2022, the first of its kind to be held alongside a FIFA World Cup. This phase engaged local and international schools to address social challenges using sports as a tool for sustainable development.
The Goal 22 Closing Summit was the highlight of the year-long journey, where young leaders from the 32 World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying countries worked on sport-led projects to make a lasting positive impact in their communities.
The Summit brought together six schools representing their respective countries, selected based on their outstanding proposals and impactful community initiatives. These schools included Langdon Park from the UK, American International School from Costa Rica, Pilgrims’ College from Argentina, the British School from Ecuador, Pinnacle of Success Academy Yaounde from Cameroon, and The First Assalam School from Qatar.
Nasser Al Khori, executive director of Generation Amazing Foundation, expressed his pride and gratitude for the successful conclusion of the programme.
He highlighted the fruitful partnership with Concacaf and emphasised the significance of using youth and community-focused sport initiatives to create a more inclusive and sustainable world.
During the three-day summit, the students had the opportunity to present their projects to a panel of experts for a chance to receive a grant of up to $5,000 to support their implementation.
The delegation also attended workshops to turn their ideas into reality and participated in the Concacaf Coach Capacity Building programme.
The event featured the GA-Concacaf Coach Capacity Building Programme, which showcased football for development methodologies through classroom and on-field seminars.
Concacaf, the governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, played a key role in the Goal 22 Closing Summit. The collaboration between Generation Amazing and Concacaf has strengthened the Football-for-Good movement, providing young leaders with a global platform to showcase their initiatives.
Jason Roberts, Concacaf Development director, commended Generation Amazing for its remarkable Goal 22 programme and expressed excitement about the partnership’s potential for positive change in football development.
He acknowledged Generation Amazing’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment through the beautiful game and expressed eagerness to continue expanding their partnership.
The Goal 22 Closing Summit demonstrated how sports, especially football, can empower youth and drive positive change. It emphasised the importance of nurturing young leaders and providing platforms for their ideas and initiatives.
The event also showcased the ongoing commitment of Generation Amazing Foundation and Concacaf to youth empowerment, community development and carrying the World Cup 2022 legacy forward to the next destination, World Cup 2026 and beyond.
Generation Amazing Foundation, launched in 2010 during Qatar’s successful bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is a human and social legacy-focused organisation. It operates sport for development programmes in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar’s National Vision 2030.
The foundation utilises football’s power to impart crucial life skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and compassion, to youth and communities in need worldwide. Since its inception, Generation Amazing, in collaboration with key partners, has positively impacted over one million lives in over 75 countries.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) is the governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Concacaf is dedicated to developing and promoting the game of football in the region. It uses its influence to drive social impact, foster positive change and create opportunities for all.