In addition to educating young people around water sanitation and hygiene through fun football games year-round, our teams of Young Leaders across the ten projects will host volunteer water events in their cities this March, using football in creative ways to tackle city-specific water challenges.
From improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education in Manchester, Shanghai and Nairobi, to addressing water scarcity in Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur, promoting responsible water conservation in Barranquilla and Tacloban City, to tackling urban water pollution in Washington D.C., Melbourne and New York, Young Leaders are stepping up to make a positive difference in their communities.
Finalists from Nairobi, New York, Tacloban City and Washington D.C., were selected to present their World Water Day 2025 volunteering ideas to a live panel of judges from Manchester City and Xylem, including Club Legend Steph Houghton, for a chance to win a coveted prize visit from City legend Joleon Lescott this March.
We are very pleased to announce that Tacloban City, in the Philippines, has been crowned the winner by the judges. A huge congratulations to Young Leaders Renzo, Daniel and all the team at our Tacloban charity partner FundLife International.
Speaking about Tacloban City’s achievement, Kimberly Lopez, Head of Operations at Fundlife said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be the winners of this year’s Water Champions Project – thanks to the judges who awarded Tacloban City! This means so much to the Young Leaders from Fundlife and is a testament to the amazing work they are doing with Xylem to improve water access in Tacloban City and to ensure sustainable impact going forward.”
The Tacloban Young Leaders were praised for their creative project plan, which combines regular football and water education with a coastal clean-up, water-filtration workshops, a water football festival and the planting of fifty mangrove trees to provide a protective barrier against extreme weather.
Steph Houghton, Manchester City Club Legend, commented: “Congratulations to all our Young Leaders around the world for the fantastic impact they are making in their communities to tackle local water challenges, and highlight the remarkable impact that collective action can have on water sustainability. Additional congratulations to Tacloban City! I’m excited to see how their event unfolds and continues to contribute to positive change.”
Ian Thompson, Managing Director - Xylem UK & I added: “Tacloban City’s Young Leaders have demonstrated the incredible power of football to drive real change in their community. Their innovative approach—combining education, action, and long-term sustainability—exemplifies the spirit of the Water Champions Project. At Xylem, we are proud to support the next generation, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to make a lasting impact.
A huge congratulations to Tacloban City for this well-deserved recognition, and to all our finalists—Nairobi, New York, and Washington D.C.—who presented inspiring and impactful projects. Each of these teams is making a meaningful difference in their communities, proving that when we work together, we can create a more water-secure future for all.”
Reflecting on the water challenges affecting Tacloban City, Young Leader Daniel, said: “In Tacloban, the challenge of clean, accessible water is more than just a problem—it’s a call to action. As World Water Day approaches, we are reminded that the struggle for water in many communities around the world reflects our shared responsibility. This is our chance to step up, take action, and show our commitment to sustainable solutions—ensuring that every drop counts for the future of Tacloban and beyond.”
Thank you to all our Young Leaders around the world for their phenomenal, sustained impact in using football to tackle local water challenges.
To find out more about Xylem and Manchester City’s work with football and water education including more information on the project cities, visit: Manchester City F.C. | Xylem Water Champions 2025
