Generation Amazing (GA) Foundation is the social and human legacy programme initiated in 2010, during Qatar’s successful bid for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ that delivered its fourth annual youth festival at the World Cup. The GA Youth Festival 2022 served as a year-long Goal 22 project and brought together more than 300 international students in Doha to teach them football for development practices that emphasise and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through workshops and activities, exploring topics such as sports diplomacy, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, leadership, mental health and more.
This GA Youth festival included workshops and panels that were organised and facilitated by more than 30 partner organisations, including FfP in support of their GOAL 22: Football, Social Impact and Sustainability. FfP delivered a workshop on ‘Rehydrating the Earth’ focused on how youth can play a role in tackling the water crisis using the power of football. The workshop was delivered by, Josh Norman (NFL top tier corner back and USA board member) Micheal Chopra (Former Premier League and FfP Technical Ambassador), Sohail Ali Senior Vice President – Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, British Airways), Kash Siddiqi (FfP Co Founder and Football Diplomat) and Braydon Bent (FfP Youth Envoy) with 50 international students in attendance and participating.
As part of the festival, youth participated in the ‘All-In Tournament’, a mini World Cup, celebrating cross-cultural interaction and diversity by having mixed teams of youth representing different countries. Braydon, Michael and Josh, did several interviews with students from all over the world, touching on topics such as local water challenges, sustainable solutions, and how football can be used as a vehicle for positive change.
Special guests and contributions at the Festival included H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Chairman, Generation Amazing Foundation; Gianni Infantino, FIFA President; Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director, Generation Amazing; David Beckham, Generation Amazing Ambassador; and Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood actor and co-owner of Wrexham FC.
