(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Generation Amazing, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)'s landmark football-focused corporate social development programme dedicated to using the power of football for generational change, celebrated the opening of its second community football pitch in Jordan, with the formal launch of a pitch in Al-Shameyeh, Aqaba.
The launch event took place at the newly constructed 'Pitch of Goals' which is at the centre of the community of Al-Shameyeh on the outskirts of Aqaba. It was attended by senior SC representatives, including SC chief of the Advisory Unit & Special Projects Khalid al-Kubaisi, Generation Amazing strategic partner Right To Play's CEO Kevin Frey, and commissioner at ASEZA, which donated the land on which the pitch is built, Abdullah Yaseen, as well as other dignitaries and community representatives from the region, including representatives from the AFDP.
Generation Amazing was launched in 2010, with a commitment to bring about positive change to the region using the power of football. The current phase of the programme was launched in 2014 in disadvantaged communities across Jordan, Nepal and Pakistan with the support of strategic partner Right To Play on the ground. In these communities, through the engagement of people, the construction of pitch infrastructure and the delivery of comprehensive Football for Development programmes, Generation Amazing is bringing about long term benefits to thousands of children and young people each year.
The event in Al-Shameyeh highlighted the importance of the new pitch to the local area, which suffers with isolation from nearby Aqaba, as well as lack of utilities and general services. It is the first safe play space in the area, giving schoolchildren and young people access to a facility that will encourage them to leave the streets and engage in football activities. Starting in early 2016, Right To Play will provide daily support in the delivery of the Football for Development programme including tournaments, play days and leagues, which will use football drills to help young participants to learn new skills. All activities will be open to both girls and boys, who will be given access to segregated activities. In this way, Generation Amazing will reach 3,125 beneficiaries every year.
Speaking at the event al-Kubaisi said: "We are delighted to be here in Aqaba. The warm welcome and support we have received made us feel at home. The people and the leadership of Jordan have always shown support and stood by our side on our way to host the first ever FIFA World Cup in the region. I want to take this chance to extend my gratitude to our strategic partners at Right to Play and to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, who played a vital role in the delivery of this project."
He added: "Opening our second Generation Amazing pitch in Jordan emphasises the regional nature of a Qatar World Cup and comes as part of our ongoing endeavours to create a lasting legacy for this tournament for the coming generations."
Right To Play's Frey added: "Today's launch event of the 'Pitch of Goals' is the culmination of many months of preparation and hard work so that Right To Play can share one of two Generation Amazing pitches in Jordan. The contributions from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority have helped us ensure that the local children and youth of Aqaba have a safe place to play football. I am sure many goals will be scored right here on this field. Even more importantly, through our programmes the children and youth in Aqaba will also learn important life skills, like how to work as a team and how to accept and understand one another."
Also present at the event were Jordan's young Generation Amazing ambassadors Ashraf Marwan Salameh, Yazeed Abdallah al-Khalayleh, Zaid Ahmad Alkhalayfeh, Hadeel Athamneh and Moayad Morshed, who have been engaged in the delivery of the programme in Jordan since early 2014, including raising awareness of the programme's activities and coaching others in their community on the importance of Football for Development for bringing about positive and lasting change.
The male Generation Amazing Ambassadors played a friendly match against the under 18 national Olympic football team of Jordan, and then all five of them helped to deliver Football for Development exercises for 80 children and youth present at the event. The Ambassadors had a similar role to play at the last Generation Amazing pitch launch event in Al Baqa'a refugee camp in Amman in August, and will continue to fly the flag of the programme right up to 2022 and beyond. (SC.qa)
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