Nigeria
Midea and Manchester City have launched a new community initiative in Africa using football to uplift the health of local young people.
The five community football projects are launching in Lagos (Nigeria), Luanda (Angola), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Rabat (Morocco).
Building on a shared commitment to community development and youth empowerment, the new projects aim to support healthier, happier, and more connected communities.
As part of the initiative, Midea’s donation of resources and home appliances will transform community centres and football hubs into comfortable, safe, and inclusive environments. These enhanced spaces will serve as vital meeting points where young people can come together to engage in football-based education, develop leadership skills, and access resources that support their physical and mental well-being.
Watch the video to meet our new community projects with Midea across Africa!
With support from the Club’s charity, City in the Community, the project will engage with local Young Leaders who will join a global network of young people trained by City coaches to use football to uplift the health of city youth in their communities.
This launch marks the latest development in the global community initiatives created through Midea and City’s partnership, building on prior projects in New York, São Paulo, and Bandung.
Last season, youth-led community football projects in São Paulo, Brazil, and Bandung, Indonesia benefited from more than 60 donated Midea appliances, including humidifiers and air conditioning units, helping young people feel at home and access education in community football, leadership, and life skills.
The new projects will be overseen and quality assured by the following local charity partners: Lead Morocco (Rabat), FAME Foundation (Lagos), Tackle Africa (Nairobi), Tackle Africa and Diski Nine9 (Johannesburg) and Special Olympics (Luanda) to ensure deep local engagement and sustainable impact.
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.”