Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Awareness

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Azerbaijan
Start date 06/01/2026
End date 02/09/2027
Cost of the project €37,015
Foundation funding €25,946
Project identifier 2025001419
Partners Football Development Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims

Context

As a result of decades long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan became one

of the most mine-polluted countries in the world with more than 13% of its territory affected by estimated 1.5 million mines and an unknown number of unexploded ordnances. From 1991 to 29 July 2025 more than 3,400 victims of explosive weapons have been registered, 330 of them received injuries and 70 lost their lives since the end of the war in November 2020.

Project goals

The goal of the project is to provide explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) to

600 children and their adult family members resettled back to their hometowns on the liberated territories, and reduce death and injury rate from landmines and UXOs using the power and popularity of football in the country.

Project content

The “Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Awareness” project combines explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) trainings by the Mine Action Agency of The Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) and other relevant authorized institutions with the participation of football players, various promotional activities and grassroots football festival for children with the focus on EORE.

At the EORE trainings, football players stress the importance of the topic, quiz children on the material and answer their questions about football before an autograph session. All children receive backpacks, T-shirts, brochures and other printed materials with safety messages.

A3 Posters (50 x school), 8 informational boards (2 boards x 4 locations) with football players and safety messages in Azerbaijani to be delivered and installed in schools and centers of the community.

Short promotional videos to be produced for the social media with football players delivering safety messages to general public in Azerbaijani.

Below are planned project activities with the timeline:

 

Project stage Date Location
short promo videos with football players throughout the project online
1st stage:    
EORE trainings, infoboards installation June 2026 (exact dates TBD) Lachin and Shusha, Azerbaijan
Grassroots football festival June 2026 (exact dates TBD) Lachin, Azerbaijan
2nd stage:    
EORE trainings, infoboards installation Oct-Nov 2026 (TBD) Aghali village (Zangilan) and Fuzuli, Azerbaijan
Project end 16-Nov-26 -

Partners

Roots and Routes: Sporting Futures

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Athens, Attica, Greece
Start date 02/01/2026
End date 07/31/2027
Cost of the project €191,218
Foundation funding €117,058
Project identifier 2025001395
Partners Organization Earth
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In Greece, many unaccompanied minors and refugee children are growing up under conditions of displacement, uncertainty and isolation. In Athens in particular, several young people living in shelters have experienced conflict, loss and repeated disruption, while still having limited access to safe, structured opportunities for sport, learning, self-expression and meaningful contact with the wider community. Girls often face additional barriers to participation and visibility. Roots and Routes: Sporting Futures responds to this reality by using sport as an entry point to improve well-being, strengthen resilience, build practical life skills and create pathways for inclusion, protection and belonging.

Project goals

  • Improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of unaccompanied minors through regular, inclusive sport activities.
  • Strengthen life skills through health literacy, soft-skills development and environmental education.
  • Foster social inclusion and a stronger sense of belonging through shared activities involving refugee children and local youth.
  • Prevent harmful and disruptive behaviors by applying a structured, trauma-informed sport methodology that promotes self-regulation, confidence and respect.
  • Equip frontline professionals with practical tools to support children’s resilience, psychosocial development and integration in everyday settings.

Project content

Roots and Routes: Sporting Futures is an 18-month program built around regular sport sessions, mainly football-based, delivered in a safe, inclusive and non-competitive framework. Sport is used not only to improve physical health, but also to help children develop teamwork, discipline, emotional regulation and trust. Alongside these sessions, the project provides health literacy workshops on topics such as hygiene, nutrition, mental health and substance-abuse prevention, as well as environmental education activities that build awareness and practical green skills through hands-on learning. Soft-skills sessions further support communication, resilience, leadership and cooperation.

A core part of the program is capacity building: professionals working with children will take part in a certified train-the-trainers course led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, enabling them to use inclusive, trauma-informed, gender-sensitive sport methods in their daily practice. The project also includes dedicated workshops on gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence, as well as community events that bring together refugee children and local youth through sport, culture and shared experiences. Monitoring, participatory feedback and evaluation run throughout the project, helping the consortium improve delivery and document results for wider learning and future scale-up.

Partners

Football for Life

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Bern and Zurich, Switzerland
Start date 08/01/2026
End date 07/31/2027
Cost of the project €410,991
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2025000741
Partners Swiss Academy for Development
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Exercise, sport and play are fundamental components of a child’s development that promote curiosity, empathy, social interaction, learning, joy and much more. At the same time, language skills are a prerequisite for education, work and social life. In Switzerland, strong inequalities exist across both language development and physical activity, with children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds the most affected. These inequalities often impact school performance, physical and mental well-being and personal development. Experiences at an early age set the tone for life: establishing healthy habits, getting involved in sport and developing language skills while young can support well-being, fitness and future educational success.

Project goals

Overall goal

Provide equal access to educational and development opportunities and foster the social integration of children, especially girls, from migrant backgrounds through sport

Specific objectives

  • Provide children with access to regular exercise and sport
  • Enhance children's language and learning skills through a movement-based learning approach, using football as a motivational tool
  • Encourage the development of personal and social skills through sport and play-based learning

Project content

Football for Life uses football to support 8 to 13-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Weekly football training sessions that encourage language development and personal growth are combined with regular cultural events, such as a children’s press conference with professional football players.

The training sessions and cultural events are designed and delivered by multidisciplinary teams, including students, coaches from local grassroots sports clubs and teachers from participating primary schools. Focusing on football-related topics, the weekly training sessions take place at the schools and use playful and interactive methods, serving as dynamic opportunities for language practice. For example, children discuss player roles, explore team dynamics and collaboratively develop game strategies – all topics deliberately chosen to strengthen their language skills.

The sessions also focus on developing motor skills, football techniques and values such as fairness, teamwork and self-confidence. All project activities are centred around the development of personal and social skills and follow the Swiss Academy for Development’s established, award-winning approach, which fosters life skills through sport and play.

Partners

Fitba Players Fund

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Towns and cities in all regions of Scotland
Start date 03/01/2026
End date 03/01/2027
Cost of the project €124,237
Foundation funding €88,741
Project identifier 2025000527
Partners The Scottish Football Partnership Trust
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Children and families in deprived Scottish communities continue to face increasing financial pressure. The ongoing impact of inflation and cost-of-living challenges has further widened inequality. As a result, more children than ever are unable to afford football participation costs. Without intervention, hundreds of children face becoming excluded from regular training, club activities and matches, severely impacting their physical and mental well-being.

Project goals

  • Support the participation of up to 500 disadvantaged children in grassroots football throughout the year
  • Prevent vulnerable children from dropping out of organised sport
  • Strengthen long-term engagement and participation in football at grassroots level
  • Promote inclusion and equal access to sport regardless of financial background
  • Support children's mental health, physical well-being and personal development
  • Strengthen the football community by ensuring equal opportunities for all young players

Project content

  • Launch a nationwide bursary scheme and deliver application support through local grassroots clubs
  • Collaborate with strategic partners such as the Scottish FA, the Scottish Youth Football Association, Scottish Women’s Football and Scottish Para-Football
  • Monitor impact through club reports, family feedback and participation data
  • Deliver over 73,500 hours of football activity across Scotland

Partners

Legacy for the future

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Poland
Start date 08/01/2026
End date 12/31/2027
Cost of the project €163,240
Foundation funding €58,890
Project identifier 2025002127
Partners Trenuj Bycie Dobrym
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In Poland, women make up only 6.7% of football players, only 1 of the 12 top-tier women’s clubs has a female manager and only 166 of the over 6,000 clubs have girls' teams.

At the same time, women’s football is more popular than ever thanks to the historic qualification of Poland's women's national team for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. Coach Nina Patalon and captain Ewa Pajor became national heroes, and some two million viewers in the country tuned in to watch the tournament.

Project goals

Continue the legacy of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, using football3 as a bridge between schools and women's football clubs.

Specific goals:

  • Boost girls' participation in football by connecting schools with women’s clubs through football3
  • Empower female teachers to serve as football3 leaders and role models to foster inclusion and fun for girls
  • Strengthen cooperation with the Polish Football Association to promote equal access and visibility for women and girls in football

Project content

  • Create an online course for teachers participating in the programme to simplify access to participation
  • Host educational conferences to introduce activities planned for 2026/27, the football3 method and the online course for new participants, and for the Polish Football Association to present football opportunities for women and girls, supported by the Ministry of Education
  • Deliver 600 football3 lessons to 4,500 children (50% girls)
  • Organise 16 football3 tournaments for 2,400 children (50% girls) to promote equal access, with women’s football clubs and female players in attendance
  • Host a football3 gala with the Polish Football Association for 350 children (50% girls)
  • Conduct research to evaluate the project’s impact

Partners

Miracoli FC: To some, it’s just a ball; to us, it’s change!

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Corviale suburb of Rome, Italy
Start date 03/01/2026
End date 05/30/2027
Cost of the project €115,200
Foundation funding €94,560
Project identifier 2025001746
Partners Calciosociale ssdrl
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Corviale is a suburb of Rome known for its significant social challenges, including high rates of poverty, school dropouts and youth crime. Young people in the area, especially teenage girls, have limited access to safe spaces, structured activities and opportunities for personal development. They are often excluded from mainstream sport by financial barriers and gender inequalities. As a result, many are at risk of social isolation, negative influences and long-term marginalisation.

Project goals

The main goal of the project is to provide an inclusive, safe and empowering environment in which football can be used to foster personal development, social inclusion and community resilience among vulnerable young people, with a particular focus on girls.

Specific objectives:

  • Engage at least 100 participants aged 13 to 17, including as many girls as possible
  • Improve participants’ leadership skills, teamwork, confidence and emotional resilience
  • Create a supportive community network by actively involving parents and families
  • Engage with and integrate marginalised young people, especially girls, through targeted outreach activities

Project content

The project delivers a combination of sports, educational and social activities using the innovative Calciosociale methodology:

  • Regular football training sessions and weekly social tournaments that promote teamwork, inclusion and fair play
  • Educational workshops that focus on life skills, civic values and personal development
  • Leadership and peer coaching programmes that empower participants to take active roles within the project
  • Individual and group psychological support activities, including mentoring and peer discussions
  • Street outreach initiatives to engage hard-to-reach youngsters and encourage them to participate
  • Family engagement through workshops and meetings to strengthen participants’ support systems
  • Exposure to professional sports environments and positive role models to inspire and motivate participants

Partners

Sport EurHope

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Poland and Romania
Start date 03/01/2026
End date 02/28/2028
Cost of the project €229,656
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2025001197
Partners Fondazione Inter EF - ETS
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

  • Bosna and Herzegovina: Cultural and religious divisions continue between Serbian Orthodox, Croatian Catholic and Bosnian Muslim communities since the Bosnian War, affecting education (with different groups separated under the ‘two schools under one roof’ policy), politics and everyday life.
  • Hungary: The Roma population, Hungary’s largest ethnic minority, faces entrenched discrimination in education, housing and employment. Increasing anti-migrant rhetoric has led to heightened nationalism. In addition, disadvantaged young people in rural areas often lack access to structured extracurricular activities, and the LGBTQI+ community is also ostracised.
  • Poland: Migrants and refugees, particularly from Ukraine, Belarus and the Middle East, face social exclusion, lack of support with integration and rising xenophobia.
  • Romania: Roma communities face poverty, limited civic participation and systemic exclusion, including being separated from others in schools. In addition, disparities between urban and rural areas leave many young people without access to quality extracurricular opportunities, and emerging migrant populations and increasing multiculturalism require new integration strategies. Finally, girls’ participation in football activities is very limited.

Project goals

SPORT EURHOPE aims to build a more inclusive society through sport, by reducing discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes, and building a specific methodology that could be used again or be replicated by third parties.

Four main areas of action have been identified:

  • Inclusion of girls, to promote gender equality
  • Inclusion of minorities, to bridge the social gap between migrants, Roma communities and others
  • Football for all abilities, to reduce barriers to enable everyone to participate
  • Inclusion of people from all religions, ethnicities and cultures, taking into account cultural traditions and freedom of belief

The project is expected to produce results at individual, local and international levels.

Project content

  • Analysis, to confirm the needs assessment and tailor the intervention and targets, based on a one-year pilot in each country
  • Implementation, of an on-pitch activity every week for two years, in collaboration with local partners and schools
  • Development and dissemination, of an inclusive-football methodology to foster sustainable societies, open-minded generations and respectful people and to provide project beneficiaries with skills in problem-solving and creative thinking, plus emotional tools to recognise and manage their feelings, accept people who are different from them, face wins and defeats, and increase their mediation and listening skills.

Partners

Girls Empowerment: Together through Football

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Girls Empowerment: Together through Football
Start date 01/30/2026
End date 01/30/2027
Cost of the project €242,000
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2025002074
Partners Goal Sti Zoi (Goal in Life)
Categories Conflict victims - Gender Equality

Context

At the end of August 2024, over 22,900 people in Cyprus were registered as beneficiaries of international protection, including 4,358 refugees (ReliefWeb). Targeted psychosocial support and sport are urgently needed to rebuild resilience and foster inclusion, especially among displaced girls.

Project goals

  • Strengthen intercultural understanding, mental health and inclusion among displaced teenage girls in Cyprus through sport and structured psychosocial support
  • Increase football sessions to three times a week, expand psychosocial support and double the number of community events

Project content

Football training & team building
Engage 100 displaced girls aged 12 to 17 in regular football activities across Cyprus.

Leadership & communication workshops
Reach 1,000 girls online with 12 interactive modules over 12 months

Psychological support
Deliver 10 group sessions (10 girls per group) to foster peer support and trauma processing

Community integration events
Host two large-scale events, engaging 300+ participants (girls, their families and the local community)

Digital toolkit/online guide
Publish a 30+ page trilingual guide (in English, Ukrainian and Greek) and distribute it to all municipalities in Cyprus, to reach an estimated 50,000 adolescent girls

Partners

Powerchair Football for Kids United

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Groningen, the Netherlands
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 01/01/2031
Cost of the project €46,500
Foundation funding €27,500
Project identifier 2025001169
Partners Kids United
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In the northern Netherlands, disabled children and young adults who are fully dependent on electric wheelchairs have very limited access to structured sport. Powerchair football is not currently available in the region, which means that they are required to travel long distances to participate.

Kids United is a non-profit foundation based in Groningen that has been offering inclusive, free-of-charge football opportunities to children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities since 2003. While the organisation supports more than 150 children through weekly training sessions and inclusive sports activities, there remains a clear gap for opportunities for electric wheelchairs users.

 

Project goals

  • Offer powerchair football activities for disabled children and young adults in the northern Netherlands
  • Promote social inclusion, self-confidence and well-being through structured team sport
  • Establish a sustainable powerchair football programme within Kids United
  • Train coaches and volunteers in inclusive sport and safeguarding practices
  • Strengthen partnerships with sports organisations and local stakeholders to ensure long-term impact

Project content

The project focuses on creating a sustainable, inclusive powerchair football programme within Kids United. Activities include acquiring specialised powerchair football equipment, organising weekly training sessions and delivering courses for coaches and volunteers.

Participants will train in a safe and adapted environment under professional supervision. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Football Association and other partners to ensure quality, continuity and alignment with national powerchair football structures.

Partners

kids 2 sterren conv 1

GoalNation: Build. Play. Belong.

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Chișinău, Moldova
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 01/01/2027
Cost of the project €60,000
Foundation funding €48,000
Project identifier 2025001165
Partners CSF SPORTING CHIȘINĂU
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Most refugee children from Ukraine lack access to safe, inclusive and well-equipped football facilities in Moldova. The pitches that do exist are limited in number, poorly maintained or far from the refugee settlements. Clubs and NGOs are overwhelmed and underfunded. This project fills a critical gap by creating child-friendly, accessible and sustainable football spaces that foster integration, well-being and personal development through sport.

Project goals

  • Develop eco-sustainable sports facilities in underserved areas
  • Promote the social inclusion and well-being of young Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan children through football
  • Foster teamwork, resilience, cross-cultural understanding and environmental awareness
  • Support grassroots football and equal access to sport
  • Empower young people through physical activity, education and safe play environments

Project content

GoalNation builds eco-certified football facilities for Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan youngsters, including a new 20m × 32m mini-pitch in Chișinău. Using FIFA-standard turf and local labour, the project will support more than 160 children from ten teams.

Partners

Life Kicks: Skills beyond the field

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Birkirkara, Malta
Start date 03/06/2026
End date 07/30/2026
Cost of the project €9,834
Foundation funding €7,867
Project identifier 2025000934
Partners Generation (Change?)
Categories Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Malta has some of the highest obesity rates in Europe and a 2018 WHO study found that only 39% of boys and 10% of girls meet the daily recommended physical activity levels. Around a third of young people drop out of organised sport each year, often blaming a lack of enjoyment, rigid structures and limited resources.

The Maltese sport ecosystem remains constrained by structural and cultural factors. Elite development is often prioritised over grassroots sport and mass participation, and girls are less likely to participate because of cultural perceptions and a lack of encouragement. In addition, young people from marginalised backgrounds are often excluded because of financial limitations or a lack of support. The country lacks open spaces where young people can meet up and play a game of football without paying. Malta also has very few programmes specifically designed to develop soft skills through sport.

Project goals

The aim of Life Kicks is to use football as an educational tool to equip young people with essential life skills, improve their well‑being and promote inclusive participation in sport and community life.

  • Develop life skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, decision-making and self-discipline
  • Promote physical and mental well‑being
  • Make participation in sport more enjoyable, inclusive and meaningful for young people
  • Actively engage people from diverse and marginalised backgrounds
  • Promote gender equality
  • Strengthen community bonds, encourage mentorship and provide spaces for positive social interactions

Project content

Generation (Change?) youth workers deliver informal transversal skills sessions at Birkirkara FC Youth Academy alongside sports activities led by football coaches. Using youth work methodologies to combine informal education with sport, the programme provides a well-rounded developmental environment that fosters participants’ personal and social capabilities. Around 200 young people can take part, including those from challenging social backgrounds, and at least 25% of the participants are girls.

Partners

Move the Ball, Change the World

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Madrid and the Valencian Community, Spain
Start date 03/01/2026
End date 03/01/2027
Cost of the project €111,300
Foundation funding €57,500
Project identifier 2025000526
Partners Fundación Red Deporte y Cooperación
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

The Valencian Community experienced floods in 2024, and since then around 40% of young people in the areas affected report mental health problems and difficulty concentrating on their studies. Young people in the disadvantaged Fuencarral-El Pardo district of Madrid face similar issues.

Project goals

  • Increase 440 young people’s resilience and personal and social growth
  • Break down cultural and social barriers that often prevent girls and young women from participating in sport
  • Highlight the importance of positive masculinity and boys being allies in achieving gender equality
  • Train 30 coaches in mental health and gender equality through football

Project content

  • Running training sessions, workshops and other football-related activities
  • Training coaches in mental health and gender equality
  • Holding a one-day football festival in Madrid and two festivals in Valencia on gender equality and resilience
  • Holding a two-day tournament in Valencia for participants from both Madrid and Valencia to learn from each other through football and workshops
  • Sharing a manual on football, gender equality and empowerment in Spanish and English with at least 100 social organisations

Partner

We live together, learn and play

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Madrid, Spain
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 12/31/2026
Cost of the project €213,113
Foundation funding €20,000
Project identifier 2025001114
Partners Asociación Alacrán 1997
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

The main critical issues detected are the vulnerability of children and adolescents regarding their mental and physical health. Anxiety, stress and unwanted isolation have been identified, along with unhealthy habits related to nutrition, sleep and excessive smartphone use. There is also an increased risk of tobacco, alcohol and other drug consumption.

Project goals

  • Support the personal and social development of vulnerable children, helping them to acquire life skills and develop key values.
  • Create a community environment that provides a protective, caring space for children and adolescents, and guarantees their rights.
  • Support the active engagement of children and adolescents, and serve as a model for other projects and initiatives in the community and society at large.

Project content

The project, with football at its core, promotes the holistic development of 130 vulnerable children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17. We believe that sport and civic activities are powerful tools for supporting children’s physical and mental health, strengthening their social and personal skills and instilling key values like equality, respect and teamwork. The project aims to use those tools to create safe, inclusive spaces where children can grow, be empowered, and become agents of change in their communities.

To achieve these objectives, the project delivers activities and programmes in the following areas:

  • Football activities, including running a football school, training youth coaches, organising community sports events and campaigning for equality in sport.
  • Comprehensive social, emotional and educational support both individually and in groups, including additional schooling, training workshops and a mental well-being group.
  • Educational leisure activities and training for youth monitors.
  • Setting up councils of children and adolescents to promote active engagement in decision-making.

Partner

League for Equity

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Lisbon and Porto (Portugal); Praia (Cabo Verde)
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 06/30/2027
Cost of the project €101,932
Foundation funding €81,545
Project identifier 2025001110
Partners Social Innovation Sports Hub (SISH)
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

In Portugal and Cabo Verde, girls from vulnerable communities face persistent socio-economic challenges and gender-related barriers that limit their access to education, sport, and opportunities for personal development. In urban areas, poverty, family instability and social exclusion are widespread, while safe, inclusive spaces for girls are scarce. This is reflected in the development of women’s football; participation rates are nine times lower than in the men’s game, and girls often give up the sport because of cultural prejudice and a lack of suitable training opportunities. There is an urgent need for initiatives to promote equality, empower vulnerable girls and encourage long-term social change.

Project goals

Our overarching mission is to get more girls from vulnerable communities taking part in sport and to give them more opportunities for personal development.

Our specific objectives are:

  • to increase girls’ participation in football and reduce dropout rates;
  • to foster leadership, inclusion and empowerment;
  • to enhance girls’ social and emotional skills and build their confidence;
  • to develop menstrual literacy and create safe spaces for discussions on health, equality and well-being;
  • to build support networks by engaging families and communities.

Project content

The project uses football as a tool for social change. It incorporates the inclusive training methods specifically tailored to female athletes, combined with educational initiatives designed to promote menstrual literacy.

SISH runs social and educational events designed to engage the community and build capacity. As well as empowering coaches and future leaders, the project also creates safe spaces where girls can play football, which helps them develop their leadership skills and self-esteem.

The project is delivered in three ways:

  • Training sessions are held twice a week and focus on developing technical, physical, social and emotional skills.
  • Monthly workshops are open to participants in the programme and to the community more widely. They promote leadership, equality, menstrual dignity, good health and general well-being.
  • Quarterly community events bring together groups from different areas. They strengthen community bonds, raise awareness of the project, and give people from a variety of backgrounds the chance to socialise together.

Partner

Kids Love Sport

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Czechia
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 06/30/2027
Cost of the project €136,000
Foundation funding €66,000
Project identifier 2025000321
Partners Gymnathlon Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Sport provides children with important life skills, promotes personal growth, social integration and mental well-being, and can help to prevent lifestyle diseases. Children in orphanages and from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in Czechia and Slovakia do not have the same access to sport as others.

Project goals

Prepare children for adulthood by helping them transition into independent and healthy lives:

  • Ensuring that children achieve better physical fitness through regular participation in sport, which contributes to overall health
  • Using sport to help prevent lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, which are increasingly common among children in modern society
  • Encouraging children to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, which will benefit them not only during their childhood but also into adulthood
  • Helping children build confidence by participating and succeeding in sport
  • Teaching children the importance of collaboration and cooperation in sport and in life
  • Using sport as a tool to enhance children’s cognitive abilities and emotional health

Project content

Gymnathlon Foundation runs weekly courses in orphanages and nearby facilities that focus on overall physical development and introduce children to various sports, such as gymnastics, athletics, volleyball, basketball, tennis and parkour. The programme is designed to be fun and engaging to ensure maximum participation and long-term impact.

Special sports days are held directly at orphanages to further engage the children, the coaches receive continuous training to improve their skills, ensuring high-quality instruction, and the older children are given the opportunity to become assistant coaches, which not only builds their skills and experience but also provides income opportunities.

Partner

Green Goals for All

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Shkodër and Elbasan, Albania
Start date 02/01/2026
End date 02/01/2027
Cost of the project €115,000
Foundation funding €70,000
Project identifier 2025002471
Partners Qendra Marrëdhënie (The Relationship Center)
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Environmental protection - Infrastructure and equipment

Context

Football is Albania’s most popular sport and a source of national pride and community. However, access to spaces for sport and play remains poor, with girls, Roma children and disabled children in particular often excluded from team sport.

Project goals

  • Transform school playgrounds in two Albanian cities with high Roma populations into green playgrounds: shaded and welcoming community-centred spaces that are inclusive and climate-responsive
  • Provide quality sports pitches and safe places for neighbourhood residents of all ages and backgrounds to exercise, play and learn
  • Offer equitable, low-barrier access to sport and nature, fostering health, confidence and community among marginalised young people

Project content

  • Organise school selection workshops and introductory sessions with each municipality to align objectives and expectations within the relevant city departments
  • Run training sessions and on-site exchanges with expert green playground designers and engagement professionals
  • Engage with the community through playground parties, neighbourhood meetings and baseline opinion surveys
  • Involve students – particularly girls, Roma children and disabled children – in the design process to ensure the spaces reflect their diverse needs
  • Lead the technical design process in close coordination with municipal departments, oversee the construction process and quality control during implementation
  • Use environmental measurements, observational surveys and perception surveys to assess outcomes such as reduced surface temperatures, increased shade coverage, increased use outside of school hours and improved inclusion
  • Provide hands-on training to municipal maintenance staff and sport and science teachers, who can potentially use the playgrounds for outdoor learning opportunities

Partner