To mark each of this season’s Global Young Leader Forums, supported by Cisco, we are shining a light on a different young leader in our network.
Following on from our spotlight on Chiara in Manchester, we are sharing the story of Valeria, who has been a young leader in Valle de Chalco, Mexico City since 2017.
We spoke to Valeria in the run-up to our second Global Forum of the season on social impact through football, engaging over 400 young leaders across 25 cities via Webex by Cisco.
What is your earliest football memory?
My first memories of football were when my dad always took me to the games with other kids and also the way he always made me shoot the ball against the wall for practice.
Football is the way I get by because I can get along with other people and I can have a laugh. That’s why I like it so much, and why football is what I love the most.
How did you get involved with Cityzens Giving and the Young Leader Programme?
The way I got involved with Cityzens Giving Young Leaders was when love.futbol and Manchester City started the Cityzens Giving project at La Doce pitch in Valle de Chalco.
Manchester City wanted to take young people to Manchester for training – the Young Leaders Summit – and that’s when I went on a trip to Manchester for the first time and there I started as a Young Leader.
Can you tell us about your experiences connecting with other young leaders in the global network?
My experience connecting with other Young Leaders has been very good because I have got to know other cultures, other people, other ways of thinking. It has also helped me to see the needs of each country.
This year as Young Leaders we have also been invited to Global Forums via Webex, in which we address different topics such as community football coaching and social impact.
How has technology helped you to adapt your programmes?
I have benefited from the Global Forums via Webex, because we learn about different types of coaching that we can do, and how to do it, so that the children are satisfied and happy. We’re also able to share experiences of other Young Leaders, which we can bring back here to La Doce pitch.
New technologies can help our project in Mexico a lot – we can adapt strategies through technology where we can communicate easily. Technology helps in the empowerment of young people, as they have access to more information.
What advice would you give to other young leaders?
I am very inspired by being part of this Network, knowing that Manchester City cares about my country and has changed lives through the projects it brings to my community.
I would tell other Young Leaders not to stop doing this beautiful work that we do of changing the future, which is children and young people. Let’s continue as Cityzens Giving and do it with all we’ve got!
Gareth Hughes, International Programmes Manager at City Football Foundation, said: “Valeria is a fantastic example of the impact our young leaders can have in their local communities and the power of being part of our global network of Cityzens Giving projects.
“Valeria was selected to travel to Manchester to represent Mexico City in the 2018 summit and then again in 2019 in a leadership role. With her dedication and personality, she instantly become a mentor to other young leaders and has become a brilliant role model for young people in the community of Valle de Chalco.”
