The Premier League (PL) team, Manchester City and global home appliances brand Midea have announced the launch of five new community football projects across Africa.
Drawing on a common dedication to community development and youth empowerment, the new projects in Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco seek to create healthier, happier, and more connected communities.
Midea’s offer of resources and home appliances will help to turn community centres and football hubs into comfortable, safe, and inclusive spaces. These improved facilities will serve as crucial gathering places for young people to participate in football-based education, develop leadership skills, and access services that promote their physical and mental well-being.
Midea and Manchester City’s collaboration has resulted in a series of global community initiatives, including projects in New York, São Paulo, and Bandung.
The previous year, youth-led community football projects in São Paulo, Brazil, and Bandung, Indonesia, received assistance from over 60 donated Midea appliances, such as humidifiers and air conditioning units. This helped young people feel at home and access education in community football, leadership, and life skills.
The projects, all led by amazing local Young Leaders, will receive a combination of grant funding and Midea product contributions, as well as training in youth leadership, social impact, and community football from City in the Community coaches in Manchester.
The trainees will become part of a global network of Young Leaders taught by City in the Community coaches to employ football as a tool to solve social issues and promote healthier lifestyles in their communities.
The initiatives will be managed and quality assured by the following local charity partners: LEAD Morocco (Rabat), FAME Foundation (Lagos), Tackle Africa (Nairobi), Diski Nine9 (Johannesburg), and Special Olympics (Luanda), assuring substantial local involvement and long-term effect. They will work together to help children and young people benefit from Midea appliances, football sessions, leadership courses, and community events that will encourage them to live healthier lives through football.
Tom Pitchon, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at City Football Group, said, “Through this partnership, we are using football and Midea products to uplift the lives of young people around the world. The community football projects we are supporting with provide young people in cities across the globe with a home away from home, while promoting health, life skills, confidence, new friendships, and leadership opportunities.”
Bright Yao, Regional Sales Director at Midea Africa, said, “At Midea, we value social responsibility, and we believe in making technology accessible with purpose – and this initiative does exactly that. By bringing our products to grassroots communities and partnering with local organisations, we’re not just providing appliances – we’re helping to create safe, inspiring spaces where young people can thrive. These are the kinds of real-life impacts that matter to us and to the future of the communities that we serve.”
