Once again, Melbourne City FC fans will have the opportunity to change the lives of communities around the world for a fifth successive year when Cityzens Giving returns next week.
So far, this truly global display of citizenship has made a difference to thousands of young people around the world from Melbourne to Bangkok and beyond.
In the past 12 months a staggering 15,000 young people in 18 cities around the world have benefitted from community football projects led by inspiring Young Leaders as part of the Cityzens Giving project.
Coaches from Melbourne City FC’s foundation, City in the Community, have worked with their counterparts in Manchester to provide training for more than 500 Young Leaders all over the world, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to tackle the most pressing social issues in their communities.
Running for a number of years across the city, Young Leaders from Melbourne City FC’s ‘I Speak Football’ program uses football to bring young people from different communities and backgrounds together to build social connections and reduce isolation.
Elsewhere, in Mexico City, Young Leaders opened a second football pitch, working with hundreds of community volunteers to create a safe space for local children to play and connect.
A community pitch was also refurbished in Bangkok, where local City fans attending the opening and took part in a tournament led by Young Leaders.
Finally, in June, seven Young Leaders from Melbourne joined an additional 70 Young Leaders from across the Cityzens Giving global network of community projects to visit the Manchester City Football Academy for the fourth annual Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit. Made possible by Etihad Airways, the Summit’s official partner, participants attended on and off the pitch workshops to share knowledge and enhance their community coaching and leadership skills.
With so much life-changing work done to date, we can’t wait to launch Cityzens Giving 2019 on Thursday 15 November, when we will be revealing six new projects for fans to vote for their favourite project and decide how funds are split. Keep a look out on melbournecityfc.com.au and don’t forget to choose your cause!
