Generation Amazing and CONCACAF are helping to change the lives of under-privileged youth across 41 countries in North and Central America through a joint programme which was launched this summer during a community football event in Houston, Texas.

During the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the organisations initiated the programme at a football for development activity for more than 200 children. CONCACAF’s Director of Development, Jason Roberts, hosted the event, which included remarks from CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani, Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin, General Secretary of the Qatar Football Association, Mansoor Al Ansari, and Generation Amazing Programmes Director, Nasser Al Khori.

After the opening remarks, Montagliani handed a commemorative co-branded football to Generation Amazing Executive Director, Mushtaq Al Waeli, to mark the official start of the programme.

“The launch of our programme during a football for development activity for youth in Houston this summer was a great reflection on the long-term objectives of our partnership to help improve the lives of thousands of youth with CONCACAF across their member associations,” said Al Khori. “It was very inspiring to see the positive impact of the activities on the children involved, and we look forward to reaching many more beneficiaries over the coming years across North and Central America.”

Participants from a range of Houston leagues and programmes, including the Special Olympics, took part in the football activities, which were delivered by CONCACAF coaches. The event marked the start of the four-year programme that has been developed collaboratively between CONCACAF and Generation Amazing. Designed to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the programme employs an innovative football for social change methodology to enhance equality and social inclusion.

“As a coach who has always placed a key focus on youth development, I was very inspired to see how Generation Amazing and CONCACAF have come together to help young people across the CONCACAF region,” said Bora Milutinovic, the two-time Gold Cup winning coach who was present at the activities and inspired children to learn through football. “This activity in Houston was symbolic of the power of football to inspire youth and change their lives and their communities for the better. We look forward to following the progress of these young people over the coming years.

The next phases of the programme are set to reach the entire region by 2025, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which will be hosted in the CONCACAF region by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Generation Amazing aims to positively impact the lives of 1 million youth by 2022.

Learn more about Generation Amazing by following them: @GA4Good on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.