Emergency aid and protection for vulnerable refugee children and families in southeast Europe

LOCATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

OUR AIM

Emergency relief for vulnerable refugee children and families while they are on the road in southeast Europe.

PROJECT CONTENT

The ‘Balkan route’

The situation of refugees and migrants arriving en masse on the Greek islands from Türkiye and heading to western Europe (particularly Germany) through FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia has become a major humanitarian issue. In February 2016, one-third of those refugees were children. Access to basic services (including shelter, sanitation, food and clothing) still needs to be improved, as the flow of refugees and migrants heading towards Europe is not likely to decrease in the coming months. Children and the mothers of young children are particularly in need and at greater risk.

A large-scale emergency operation in FYR Macedonia and Serbia has already provided relief to more than 11,000 refugee families by distributing essential cold-weather items and hygiene products, setting up safe areas for mothers and children, and providing information to refugees and much-needed psychosocial support to the most vulnerable – notably young children. The operation will continue around the transit zones of Tabanovce in FYR Macedonia and Adasevci in Serbia during the coming summer months.

Expected results and scheduled actions

1) At least 6,000 refugee children and mothers will receive emergency non-food items to meet their basic needs in winter conditions. The project aims to distribute hygiene products, with a strong focus on women and adolescent girls, and life-saving winter items. The project will help to prevent outbreaks of disease, while also contributing to people’s sense of dignity in these difficult circumstances.

2) At least 10,000 children and their families will receive protection and support through recreational activities, emergency counselling and activities promoting health. The benefits of recreational activities and children being able to play in a secure environment have been shown to have a significant positive impact in tough situations: play and creative recreational activities help children to strengthen their resilience and deal with stress and negative experiences. Using trained professionals, the project will provide recreational activities to children (particularly those aged three to ten) and their mothers, as well as providing parents with ‘psychological first aid’, health advice and referrals to appropriate services where needed.

3) Children and their families will be able to access information and means of communication in order to be regularly updated on their rights and the risks they face and to maintain social connections with their country of origin and family members. The project will provide access to accurate information on child protection, health issues, refugee rights, the risk of being trafficked, travel issues and access to services. This information will be available in Arabic, English and Dari and will be provided in a timely manner in a variety of ways (such as orally or in the form of leaflets and maps). Where possible, the project will also provide recharging points for mobile phones and GSM wireless devices.

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NOS PARTNERAIRES

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One Goal for Education

LOCATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

OUR AIM

The UEFA Foundation for Children will support the ‘One Goal for Education’ project, which aims to use football to empower and engage with young people between the ages of 8 and 15 who have low self-esteem and/or self-confidence and are struggling within formal education. All project partners have a long record of providing learning opportunities to young people in their cities and regions. By establishing links with football clubs across Europe, the project has created an e-learning platform allowing organisers to engage with and influence young people at European level.

PROJECT CONTENT

Football against isolation and disengagement

Using football to help motivate and engage with young people

By the end of the project, participants should:

  • have greater self-esteem and self-confidence;
  • be more aware of how to live healthy lives;
  • be more tolerant of people from different cultures and countries and think in less stereotypical terms;
  • have an enhanced sense of compassion and community;
  • foster creative ways of communicating with young people from different countries;
  • know how to deal with feelings of achievement and frustration (i.e. both winning and losing).

13-Playing-for-Success

Expected impact and results

The project is expected to have a major impact on the way in which football clubs work with young people in their local areas and enhance the learning opportunities offered to young people – particularly vulnerable young people. The working relationships established as part of the project will not end when the project ends, instead continuing after the project has ceased to be funded.

The project is expected to have the following impact on participants:

  • Greater self-confidence and self-esteem (i.e. personal development)
  • Increased participation in sport, physical activity and voluntary activities
  • Greater awareness of how to live a healthier life and improve well-being (tackling obesity, etc.)
  • More international social contacts and relationships
  • Greater awareness of other European nations

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OUR PARTNERS

good-mifalot-logo---Copy    Feyenoord-Foundation---Copy    ReadyCrest    RCF-high-res    One-Goal-(big)    NEC-logo    Morton-Logo-HR    Montrosebadge-May-2002a    LPCT-Logo    Logo-Voetbal-in-de-Stad Logo-KAA-Gent-2    Tottenham-Hotspur-Foundation    Fulham-FC-logo---Copy    foundation_logo_full_colour_tonal_crest-Copy    EFDN_logo_RGB    Doelbewust-logo-fc   israel

Health and social integration through sport in Ireland

Location and general information

CONTEXT

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The John Giles Foundation aims to promote sporting activities and a healthy lifestyle among children in disadvantaged communities across Ireland. There is a special focus on football, which is used to tackle obesity and social exclusion. The foundation helps to strengthen club structures and local entities in order to foster the integration of vulnerable sections of the population and bring about positive social change. It also supports various programmes at national level. The UEFA Foundation for Children shares the John Giles Foundation’s vision, so it is keen to provide financial backing for the foundation’s current activities and help it to support more programmes in the future.

Project content

“Make opportunities a right – not a privilege.” John Giles

With this motto, the John Giles Foundation focuses on the individual in his/her own environment. The foundation uses football to create a better quality of life, greater self-esteem and increased opportunities. Many small, rural communities cannot afford the basic facilities required to cater for children who want to participate in football or other sporting activities, as funding is very limited. Assistance with the development of appropriate infrastructure in those communities would give thousands of children the opportunity to play football or other sports.

Testimony to the positive impact of the programme

“The foundation’s support helped us to improve our facilities and thereby increase participation in girls’ football in a remote rural area in the west of Ireland. As a result, we now have three girls’ teams where there were none previously.” Richie Flannery, Kilmore Girls FC

Healthy Kids’ programme

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The John Giles Foundation is helping communities through its ‘Heathy Kids’ programme, which involves a local team working with communities to increase awareness of how important healthy living is for children. That initiative is based on three elements:

  • education regarding nutrition, a balanced diet and the importance of regular physical activity;
  • the provision of an outlet for that physical activity;
  • support for the local team and the community to keep the programme going.

The power of football is effectively used to build community cohesion, promote health, and encourage lifelong participation and learning in this programme.

Expected impact and results

  • Improved infrastructure in order to increase access to sport in remote rural areas
  • More children playing football or other sports, including girls and children from disadvantaged communities
  • Trained, qualified coaches in both rural and urban areas
  • Greater awareness of the growing obesity issue in Ireland and the provision of solutions through sport, nutritional guidance and the promotion of healthy lifestyles
  • Tangible positive impact on children’s health and social integration, and an increase in lifelong participation and learning

Liens

John Giles Foundation: www.johngilesfoundation.com

NOS PARTNERAIRES

John-Giles-Foundation