The training equips coaches with the tools and skills to deliver specialized football sessions that enhance life skills and install community values, promoting a healthier, more active society. by training Neighbourhood Clubs master trainers to train all 90 trainers. Led by GA Master Coach Hamad Abdulaziz, the program follows a Training of Trainers (ToT) model. Coaches first completed eight modules on GA's e-learning platform before attending a four-day in-person session for 30 participants, including 30 Neighborhood Club coaches who will return to their cities to train volunteers and other trainers.
Nasser Al Khori, Generation Amazing Foundation’s Executive Director, emphasized the potential of sport to drive social change: “This collaboration with SFA is a testament to the transformative power of sport in both promoting and addressing critical social issues. Through this program, we are not only empowering young leaders to use sport as a tool for personal and community development but also strengthening the capacity-building relationship between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Together, we are fostering a shared vision of using sport to drive positive social change and create lasting impact across the region.”
Both GA and SFA share the belief that sport is a powerful vehicle for positive change. Together, they are working to equip young leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to address pressing social challenges, while also promoting physical and mental well-being.
Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, Managing Director of SFA, stated: “The comprehensive training model combines practical, hands-on learning with a focus on social impact. By integrating life skills and sports skills, the program leverages a twin-tracked approach, enabling participants to effectively plan, design, and deliver football-based sessions that address social issues.”
The coaches learned how to integrate knowledge from online modules into practical scenarios, focusing on safeguarding, needs assessments, and inclusive football session design. They learned to plan and deliver Sports for Development (S4D) sessions that blend life and sports skills in order to nurture positive behaviours and promote social and emotional learning. Additionally, they were taught to create inclusive environments for diverse participants, including at-risk groups and individuals with disabilities. Coaches who have completed the training will go on to deliver the Sports for Development Programme to children and youth in SFA Neighborhood Clubs across the Kingdom.
A participant in the training shared their experience: “This program has given me the confidence and practical tools to lead impactful sessions, using sport not just for fitness but to help youth build life skills. I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned back to my community.”
Through the collaboration between GA and SFA, the initiative aims to create a lasting impact by empowering young leaders to pass on their knowledge, ensuring that the benefits of sports for development ripple throughout their communities.
