- The Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit, presented by Etihad Airways, takes place next week in Manchester returning for the first time since 2019 in-person, with 40 Young Leaders from 20 cities invited to attend – including three Young Leaders from NYC
- The event will include a new Young Leaders Awards ceremony, streamed live to Young Leaders, friends and family around the world in partnership with Cisco
- Young Leaders were surprised with special invitations from Manchester City players and legends ahead of the Summit
40 Young Leaders from 20 cities around the world – including three from New York City – will arrive in Manchester this weekend for a five-day soccer-based leadership summit at the Etihad Campus.
The Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit, presented by Etihad Airways, returns to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, having connected record numbers of Young Leaders virtually in 2020 and 2021.
Now in its eighth year, the Global Summit will recognize and celebrate the Young Leaders’ achievements in using soccer to positively impact the health of young people in their communities.
Participants were selected for their dedication to supporting young people through soccer during the pandemic. They hail from a diverse range of cities, including New York City, Manchester, Melbourne, Bangalore, Barranquilla, Buenos Aires, Cape Coast, Cape Town, Chicago, Kolkata, Kilifi, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Lommel, Mexico City, Montevideo, Mumbai, Philadelphia, São Paulo and Washington DC.
Manchester City players and legends including Fernandinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott helped to surprise Young Leaders with their invitations to this year’s summit which is shaping up to be a special week.
For the first time, a Young Leaders Awards ceremony will take place at the Etihad Stadium and will connect young leaders, friends and family from around the world via Webex by Cisco. This event will shine a light on these young community heroes who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference.
Training from City in the Community coaches will equip Young Leaders with the skills and confidence to continue to use the power of soccer to uplift young people in their communities. Key sessions will include soccer-based workshops on mental health, nutrition and water education, visits to Manchester schools and the delivery of a soccer festival.
Young Leaders will also have a chance to share with each other news from their projects, reflections and learnings from a challenging couple of years, and the latest innovations in community soccer.
The Summit is the culmination of this season’s Young Leader training program which has seen Cityzens Giving join forces with Official Technology Partner Cisco to engage a record 1,600 Young Leaders in 64 cities via live digital forums on Webex.
Tom Pitchon, City Football Group’s Global Foundation Director said: “It is a privilege to be working with such an inspiring group of young leaders from around the world. The work they do to change lives through football day in day out is an inspiration to all of us and this summit is a way to celebrate and energize the incredible impact they are having in their communities.”
Amina Taher, Vice President Brand, Marketing and Sponsorships, Etihad Airways said: “Sports sponsorship is an excellent way for us to connect with communities worldwide. Through our partnership with Manchester City Football Club and the Young Leaders Summit, we have the opportunity to bring talented young leaders together, so they can continue to make an incredible impact on their local communities across the world. It’s our privilege to fly these young leaders to Manchester from destinations worldwide and for them to enjoy the Etihad flight experience on their journey.”
