Manchester City and Midea have today announced the launch of a new community football project in São Paulo, Brazil.

The joint initiative will see Manchester City work in collaboration with leading home appliance brand, Midea, to educate local youth on football, leadership, and sustainability with the shared goal of making young people feel at home, on the football pitch and beyond.   

With support from the Club’s charity, City in the Community, the project will engage 20 local Young Leaders who will join a global network of young people training by Manchester City coaches to use football to uplift the health of city youth in their communities.  

The Young Leaders will be empowered to deliver a fun and educational curriculum focused on leadership and sustainability to over 500 children each year across a network of schools in São Paulo.  

To celebrate the launch of this project, Manchester City legend Elano Blumer visited the project at Fundação Gol de Letra whilst travelling to Brazil as part of Manchester City’s global Treble Trophy Tour. Elano spent time getting to know young people from the local community who will benefit from the initiative and learned about the challenges they face.  

He later led a football masterclass and delighted attendees with the opportunity to see and take pictures with the Club’s iconic silverware won during a historic treble campaign last season.  

Reflecting on his experience at the project, Elano shared: “I’m delighted to help launch Man City’s new community project in São Paulo, in partnership with Midea. Alongside the affection I have for City, coming to a social project where you meet local children is a very special experience.  

“Gol de Letra Foundation has been going for many years now and being able to partner with City and Midea to give children widespread access to sport is fantastic. I hope this project continues to bear fruit.” 

Staff from Midea Brazil also attended the event and celebrated the launch by committing to a future donation of Midea home appliances for the project centre, providing a sense of home for the participants and the wider community who will benefit from their use.  

View some pictures from the event below!