To celebrate the launch of the latest community football project in India with Etihad Airways, the airline flew out community coaches from City in the Community, the Club’s charity, to Bangalore, India.
The coaches delivered world-class football and leadership training to the project’s inspirational group of Young Leaders through a series of skills-based workshops empowering healthier lives through football.
The experience also offered the Young Leaders a chance to connect and build friendships with participants from the different project cities.
The summit concluded with a community football festival led by the Young Leaders who put their new skills and learnings into practice with the local children in Bangalore before travelling back to their own communities.
Speaking about her role at the summit, Laura, lead coach from City in the Community, said: “My role at the Etihad Young Leaders Summit has been teaching and supporting the Young Leaders, upskilling them in community coaching, leadership, and social impact.
“A highlight has been working with the Young Leaders, getting to know them, and learning more about their own communities.”
Sharing her experience at the Etihad Young Leaders Summit, Rukhsar, a Young Leader from Kolkata, said: “I am very glad to have this opportunity to come to Bangalore and participate in the Young Leaders Summit. I am very excited about it!
“The coaches have provided training on resilience, adaptability, problem-solving, and shared guidance on how to become a positive role model in our coaching. The summit has been a very good opportunity for us because everything we have learned here is what we are going to implement with our community when we go back.”
Reflecting on the opportunity and her first time flying, Tannu, a Young Leader from New Delhi, said: “I was very happy and proud to be flying for the first time and my family in Delhi were also very proud that I travelled by flight.
“We have been brought here as Young Leaders, so that we can go back and support our community’s progression and teach the children on how to be open to new learnings through football coaching.”
The talented group of Young Leaders were selected to take part for their dedication and skill as community football leaders.
They all form part of the project network in partnership with Etihad Airways, which has launched in three cities in India from the airline’s network: Bangalore, Kolkata, and New Delhi, with more locations to follow next season.
Take a look at the photos below to see what they got up to!
