Leading water technology company, Xylem and their non-profit partner, Planet Water Foundation, delivered training sessions with City in the Community (CITC) coaches at July’s Global Young Leaders Summit, which was presented by Etihad Airways.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant the annual Summit was hosted digitally for the first time, with 250 Young Leaders from 23 cities in attendance.
With Xylem committed to corporate social responsibility, including providing education and access to safe water to ensure healthy lives, gender equality and resilient communities, the training focused on using football to teach young people about water sanitation and hygiene.
Young Leaders learned how to construct a curriculum and how to create educational messages focused on sustainability and social impact that engage and inspire younger audiences, whilst also being taught how to adapt group activities for individuals in response to current restrictions due to COVID-19.
“My favourite session was on creating social impact and the presentation on germs and how they spread,” said 23-year-old Diana, a Young Leader in Cape Coast, Ghana.
“I will use football to teach children practical lessons about germs, hygiene and washing hands because children learn and retain information more through play activities.”
Cityzens Giving helps young people from cities around the world use the power of football to tackle social issues in their communities.
Xylem’s training session at the recent Young Leaders Summit builds on their support for Cityzens Giving projects in Cape Coast and Bangalore, India, where Young Leaders combine football with life-saving education on water and sanitation to help prevent water-borne illnesses and keep children in school.
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To date, these projects have helped protect and improve the lives of thousands of young people.
“Our purpose-driven partnership with Manchester City is focused on raising water awareness with one billion people globally,” said Joseph Vesey, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Xylem.
“In particular, we want to empower the younger generation to play a leading role in creating a more water-secure and sustainable future – and to have their voices heard.
“Combining football education with education on water and safe sanitation is a first of its kind, and we’re excited to have the City Football Foundation Young Leaders cohort to deliver this impact and solve water for their communities around the world.”
