2011
Faith in Football
Using Football to Support Youth Development and Community Dialogue
By 2011, Majid Lavji's work had expanded beyond football development and player pathways into the wider role that sport can play within communities.
Through Faith in Football, Majid became increasingly involved in discussions around positive youth development, inclusion, interfaith dialogue and the social responsibility of football organisations.
Kick It Out, 1 July 2011 — the inaugural Faith in Football Working Group at Wembley, with Majid among its members
During this period, Majid regularly participated in football working groups and industry discussions involving The Football Association, alongside relationships with football organisations and associations in the UK, Africa and Asia, including regional football bodies such as WAFU — the West African Football Union.
His work focused on how football could be used not only to develop players, but also to engage young people, bring communities together and encourage dialogue between people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.
Advisory Work
Majid also advised football associations, companies and sporting organisations on areas including:
- Positive youth development through football
- Community engagement
- Interfaith and intercultural dialogue
- International football relationships
- Player development and management
- Using football as a platform for social inclusion
Why It Matters Today
The work built naturally on the philosophy that had underpinned AsiaEurope and OneCulture from the beginning: that football has the ability to cross cultural, religious and social boundaries in a way that few other institutions can.
For Majid, Faith in Football represented another development in his career — moving beyond organising tournaments and academies towards contributing to wider conversations about how football organisations can positively influence the communities they represent.
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If any of this experience is relevant to a challenge or opportunity at your club, Majid is happy to have a confidential conversation.