The new programme, titled ‘Goal 22: Football, Social Impact and Sustainability’, is a first-of-its-kind youth exchange project that aims to empower young people who are passionate about football. It will teach key life skills through physical and virtual workshops led by Generation Amazing’s network of delivery partners.
Youth from all 32 competing nations at Qatar 2022 will take part in Goal 22, which is being delivered in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar Museums, FIFA Foundation and UNESCO. Sponsors include Qatar Airways, Visit Qatar, Qatar Fund for Development, Qetaifan Projects, QLM Insurance, SDIsports and Hublot.
Goal 22 will be delivered in three phases. The first was delivered virtually and involved students learning about sport for development principles, along with key subjects including quality, diversity and inclusion. The second phase will be held during the upcoming Generation Amazing Youth Festival at Education City in Qatar, with the final instalment held both virtually and in-person as students map out social development opportunities in their own communities.
H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of QF, said: “Qatar Foundation is incredibly proud to be a strategic partner of the Generation Amazing Foundation and to have hosted the Generation Amazing Youth Festival since 2019.
“Now, just ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we are delighted for this year’s event and its subsequent programme, Goal 22, to celebrate students from all over the world. Young people – in Qatar and beyond – will be given the opportunity to learn from each other in one of the most dynamic and unique student programmes to ever be held during a World Cup.
“Part of our ethos at QF is to ensure sport is used for the benefit of young people – and we share this belief with the Generation Amazing Foundation. Together, we have delivered multiple programmes that empower children and young people, equipping them with the skills and tools to champion accessibility, sustainability and education.
“Goal 22 represents a new chapter for the Generation Amazing Foundation. We look forward to continued success in the future, and the impact this legacy programme will have – both in Qatar and beyond.”
H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Chairman, Generation Amazing Foundation, said: “Throughout the years, the Generation Amazing Festival has always been an example of utilising major sporting events to bring young people together to celebrate the power of football. This year’s launch of Goal 22 builds on this element to unite not only people from the region, but representatives from all 32 nations participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It’s testament to our goals of making a regional and global impact through the Generation Amazing Foundation.”
Since being launched during Qatar’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup™, Generation Amazing has implemented football for development projects in 35 countries. Since 2019, it has united youth from across the globe during the annual Generation Amazing Festival.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said: “Since the beginning of our partnership with Generation Amazing, we have successfully collaborated in using football to empower young people in Qatar. Today, we are delighted to widen the impact of this partnership to all participating nations through the Goal 22 programme, leaving a lasting legacy well beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Mauricio Macri, Executive Chairman, FIFA Foundation, said: “The FIFA Foundation is committed to tackling social issues affecting young people and supporting education through football. With Goal 22, we are empowering students from around the world with new skills that will help them to become social and sustainable development champions within their communities.”
Generation Amazing operates in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, promoting inclusion and gender equality in its football for development programme. The programme's unique methodology teaches life skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork and organisation.
Click here to learn more about Generation Amazing. For the latest updates, follow @GA4Good on Twitter and Instagram.
