Youth Sports Games 2023

Location and general information

Closed
Location Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Serbia
Start date 01/01/2023
End date 12/31/2023
Cost of the project €6,328,380,00
Foundation funding €100,000,00
Project identifier 20220707
Partners Association for Sport, Recreation and Education – Youth Games
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality

Context

The Youth Sports Games were launched in Split, Croatia, in 1996. The primary motive was to enable children to take part in organised sporting events and other free activities. The Youth Sports Games have since become the largest amateur sports event for children and young people in Europe. More than 2.5 million children have competed in the 26 years since they began.

The games are held in three countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. Children of primary and secondary school ages compete in ten sports free of charge, and the most successful individuals and teams get to travel to Split to take part in the international finals.

In addition to the games, the association organises regular sports and recreational activities for children to encourage health, tolerance and ethical values. The association promotes a lifestyle based on understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play as an alternative to addiction and delinquency.

Project goals

The association aims to:

- Bring children and young people together for sport and recreation

- Cultivate a positive atmosphere among children and young people;

- Encourage sport and friendship as an alternative to addiction and delinquency, thereby rationalising health and social programmes

- Promote educational activities and deliver a modern, up-to-date message to, and by, young people

In 2023, 220,000 participants are expected from the three countries. Football will have 110,000 players.

The goals for 2023 include the expansion of activities to over 300 municipalities with 15,000 female footballers. National finals in the three countries will be attended by 6,000 participants each, while 1,500 young people will compete in the international finals for which all expenses are covered – accommodation, travel and competition costs.

Project content

Sport is used as a medium to connect the participants, aged 7–18, through tournaments held in over 300 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The Youth Sports Games advocate a healthy lifestyle and promote all ten sports (football, street basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, dodgeball and athletics), as well as educating the children about sustainability. Emphasis is placed on organising football tournaments for girls with a participation target of 15,000 young female footballers in the three countries.

Partner

OM workbook

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Marseille, France
Start date 07/01/2022
End date 06/30/2023
Cost of the project €50,000
Foundation funding €50,000
Project identifier 20220270
Partners OM Fondation
Categories Personal development

Context

Marseille is a city noted for its significant social inequalities and high dropout rate among school pupils.

Project goals

  1.  Offer unique, high-quality support to all 9-10 year-old schoolchildren in Marseille and their teachers
  2. Counter the school dropout rate by harnessing the image and attractiveness of Olympique de Marseille football club, making use of the club’s infrastructure and involving the players
  3. Develop a sense of belonging to a broader community
  4. Create an appetite for doing sport by employing innovative techniques
  5. Promote the values of sport and social cohesion
  6. Promote diversity through the use of illustrations showing girl and boy characters

Project content

The Cahier des Olympiens project offers an effective, innovative way to combat these problems by providing a freely available, high-quality, fun workbook. On the recommendation of the Académie d'Aix-Marseille (a project partner), the workbook focuses on a pivotal year in children’s education: CM1, the start of the third cycle of the French education system (ages 9–11). It is at these ages that initial problems often arise.

The book can be used in class at the teacher’s request or at home, including during holidays, especially by families who could not afford to purchase these materials.

The book presents a wealth of valuable content. Numerous references to Olympique de Marseille (illustrations, photos, exercises, etc.) reinforce the publication’s attractiveness and usefulness.

Not only does the project distribute the extracurricular workbook to all Marseille’s state and private schools at the start of the school year, it also reinforces the teaching tool through meetings and constructive exchanges with professional players throughout the season in video conferences in which a player meets a class to encourage work on oral expression. The close links between the club and schools make the workbook highly attractive to students and more likely to be used properly.

Partners

Deporte por Refugio – Sport as Shelter

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Sevilla, Spain
Start date 02/15/2023
End date 02/15/2024
Cost of the project €300,177,08
Foundation funding €203,165,00
Project identifier 20220760
Partners Fundación Grande Valores
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Personal development

Context

Four of the ten poorest districts in Spain are located in the city of Seville, with 38.6% of the children at risk or enduring alarming levels of poverty and social exclusion. In addition, a significant migrant population is concentrated in these districts and faces problems of exclusion and segregation. This situation, along with inequality and unemployment, causes various family problems that have a major impact on childhood education and development.

Project goals

  1. Promote the inclusion, education and well-being of children and young people from refugee backgrounds and local communities in Seville.
  • Increase children's sense of belonging and participation in the community
  • Reduce children's gender and intercultural prejudices
  • Train young refugees in Sport for Development methodology
  • Build resilience by teaching children about life skills
  1. Raise awareness about the inclusion of people in vulnerable situations through sports in schools.

Project content

The Deporte por Refugio project had a great impact in its first year. Now, in this second year, the mission is to promote the well-being and inclusion of children, young people and families in vulnerable communities and with migrant and refugee backgrounds in Seville. The message that we want to deliver to society through this project is that football can transform the lives and prospects of children and refugees. The project is supported by UNCHR, UNICEF, the Spanish Government and the Seville city authorities.

Partner

Sports facilities for children and young people

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Switzerland
Start date 01/01/2023
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €6,489,800
Foundation funding €60,000
Project identifier 20220216
Partners Fondation IdéeSport
Categories Access to Sport - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

The projects promoted by Fondation IdéeSport respond to three alarming realities of modern life experienced by children, teenagers and families: physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, the excessive use of social media, and the difficulty and expense of accessing sports facilities. The healthy development of young people is dependent on opportunities to play sport. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its lockdowns and closures of sports facilities, has heightened the urgency of the situation.

Project goals

The project focuses on children and teenagers from all social backgrounds, irrespective of their gender, social status, ethnic origin or sporting skills. The programmes are offered free of charge and actively contribute to integrating children and young people, especially those who have experienced migration. Sport is used as a way to promote health and an active lifestyle and also prevent addiction while working towards set objectives.

Project content

Fondation IdéeSport promotes healthy lifestyles for children and teenagers through its three programmes, offering places to socialise and weekend activities at community sports facilities. The foundation’s projects are aimed at all ages, with MidnightSports and EverFresh programmes for teenagers, OpenSunday for primary-age children and MiniMove for young children accompanied by their parents.

Partners

“Prishtina” Girls’ football team

Location and general information

Closed
Location Kosovo
Start date 01/01/2023
End date 12/31/2023
Cost of the project €55,350
Foundation funding €50,000
Project identifier 20221234
Partners KFV Prishtina
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

While there is no longer violent conflict in Kosovo, there is still mistrust among the many communities. These communities remain largely divided geographically, culturally and politically; the divides prevent many, and younger people in particular, from contemplating mutual efforts to build a shared social platform.

Women generally do sport in Kosovo, but few young women and girls play football. Those who do so face significant gender stereotyping, gender barriers and other issues including sexual harassment.

However, there is an opportunity to increase the number of young women and girls playing football in Kosovo. Sport is considered a driver of social change and community development and a tool for fostering peace and understanding. This project intends to demonstrate how football is a powerful instrument to strengthen social ties and promote peace, tolerance, solidarity and understanding, while increasing the number of women and girls actively involved in sport.

Project goals

  • Increase the number of women and girls playing football in Kosovo
  • Harness the power of football to promote sustainable, peaceful relations among girls in all communities in Kosovo
  • Establish girls’ football teams in schools in coordination with municipal sports and education departments
  • Design a local communication strategy to empower women and girls through football
  • Promote gender equality in football to break down barriers and stereotypes
  • Improve the leadership, communication and teamwork skills of the participating girls in different communities
  • Promote togetherness and the benefits of sport for mental health
  • Promote sustainable development goals through joint activities and mentoring sessions

Project content

The Prishtina Girls’ Football Team project provides a safe platform for girls to play football and promotes gender equality. The main focus of the project is to increase the number of women and girls playing football, thereby facilitating trust and tolerance between the various ethnic communities in Kosovo. This is achieved by organising matches and tournaments, with women and girls from all communities playing in mixed teams, including those with disabilities and those from rural areas and living in SOS Kindergartens, together with players already registered with the team.

Training on the UEFA Child Safeguarding Policy will be given to physical education teachers and the project’s community coordinators.

Awareness-raising activities

  • Screening videos on a variety of subjects, including preventing bullying and gender stereotyping in football, promoting children’s rights and the role of sport in diversity, development and constructing peace
  • Marking international advocacy days such as Children’s Day and the International Day for Development and Peace with joint tournaments
  • Promoting a football tournament in Brezovica to bring various ethnic communities together to play and communicate through the language of football

The next step after setting up girls’ teams is to establish a primary school league in Prishtina in conjunction with the municipality department of sports.

Partner

Score for Education Phase 2

Location and general information

Closed
Location Albania
Start date 01/01/2023
End date 12/31/2023
Cost of the project €201,141
Foundation funding €129,931
Project identifier 20220339
Partners Save the Children
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Many schools in Albania are not able to implement the official physical education curriculum due to a lack of facilities and materials. Only 8% of girls and 22% of boys aged 15 are involved in daily physical activities. Gender norms prevent girls from participating in sport. Furthermore, bullying, harassment and abuse are outstanding challenges. Together with the foundation, Save the Children is tackling these issues by scaling up the Score for Education project.

Project goals

The overall goal is for schools and communities to promote healthy lifestyles and holistic development through sports activities, leaving no child behind. The approaches to achieving this goal include:

    1. Providing quality sports facilities and activities for the children of five schools
    2. Encouraging teachers to use sport to promote respect, equality and inclusion
    3. Supporting children, parents and communities to show increased awareness of inclusion, social acceptance and equality

Project content

Score for Education phase 2 contributes to better school environments, in this way promoting healthy lifestyles and allowing children to achieve their full potential. While continuing its activities in the three urban schools supported in phase 1, the project will be extended to two rural schools. This second phase integrates the lessons learned from previous projects, such as introducing activities that tackle bullying. It will also add other sports (e.g. volleyball) based on feedback received from girls. In total, 1,104 children will be reached directly. Activities will include:

  • Establishing and supporting mini sports clubs for girls and boys offering a variety of sports activities
  • Organising a football championship
  • Renovating and improving the sports facilities at two rural schools
  • Building the capacity of PE teachers with regard to techniques to nurture life skills through sport

Workshops with parents and children on the benefits of sport for a healthy lifestyle.

Partner

Championing an Inclusive Future through Football

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location France, Türkiye, England
Start date 05/01/2022
End date 06/01/2024
Cost of the project €340,000
Foundation funding €-
Project identifier 20211111
Partners FedEx Corp
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Employability - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

FedEx was the first corporate partner to work with the foundation in 2016. This collaboration began with the funding of artificial turf community football pitches, known as a ‘Field in a Box’, in communities in Brazil, Poland, South Africa and Spain. Since then, the collaboration has matured to focus on using football as a tool to address social challenges and improve lives in a more sustainable way.

A sponsor of the UEFA Champions League for the 2021–24 cycle, FedEx’s support extends to its social responsibility programme, as it highlights the social challenges faced by the host countries of the UEFA Champions League finals: Paris in 2022, Istanbul in 2023 and London in 2024.

Project content

The Championing an Inclusive Future through Football programme runs alongside FedEx’s sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League and involves offering financial support to non-profit organisations using football as a tool to promote inclusiveness among communities in cities where the finals are held. The organisations and activities supported are described below.

Paris

The charity Sport dans la Ville (SDLV)S runs a programme called ‘L dans la Ville’ supporting the needs and career aspirations of underserved girls over the age of 10 and young women.

Istanbul

Türkiye-based Bonyan Organization works with disadvantaged communities hosting a high number of refugees in Istanbul, as well as in the city of Mardin, close to the Syrian border.

London

Kick It Out’s Coach Pathway invites men and women of Black and Asian descent to take part in a mentoring programme that will support their development as coaches..

Objectives

SDLV’s programme in Paris will reach more than 2,000 girls and aims to:

  • empower them through sports practice, events and trips;
  • increase access to employment;
  • prepare them to become leaders;
  • raise awareness of gender stereotypes.

 

Bonyan Organization’s project in Istanbul and Mardin promotes well-being, social cohesion and safety among refugees and their host communities by leveraging the power of football and sports to foster peaceful coexistence. The project will target 4,000 children representing different ethnicities and regions, with an even split of Turkish and refugee children and of boys and girls. Children with special needs will also be included. The project aims to:

  • increase access to existing sports facilities for both Turkish and refugee children;
  • support Turkish schools so that they are able to host refugee students;
  • enhance the soft skills (life skills, leadership, conflict resolution, etc.) of the children and their sports coaches;
  • help physical education teachers to adopt a ‘football3’ mindset in relation to their classroom assignments with a view to launching future initiatives themselves;
  • enhance gender sensitivity and the engagement of girls in sports activities, particularly football;
  • promote the inclusion of children with special needs in sports activities, particularly football;
  • create opportunities for the integration of Turkish people and refugees through sports;
  • increase access to Türkiye's existing Child Protection Communities for both Turkish and refugee children.

 

The aim of Kick It Out is to create pathways for groups that are under-represented in football to help diversify the talent pool. The organisation calls on its many contacts in the Premier League, the English Football League, The FA, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the national squads to offer the 15 selected participants:

    • the skills they need to enhance their coaching talent;
    • access to mentors;
    • coach observation opportunities;
    • placement opportunities;
    • personal coach development.

Project activities

SDLV creates a close relationship with young girls through sports and cultural activities just for them.

  • Regular sessions open only to girls, giving them the chance them to have fun, talk to other girls in the neighbourhood and improve their playing in a safe environment
  • The Discovery programme, offering cultural and sporting outings for girls as young as six as well as visits from professional women with inspiring stories for those aged 10 to 25 to encourage them to pursue careers
  • Individual follow-up sessions for each participant and advice on how to achieve their professional objectives

 

Activities with Bonyan Organization take place across two cities.

  • Rehabilitating school football fields (two in Istanbul and two in Mardin)
  • Distributing sport kits and football3 guidelines (ten schools in Istanbul and 15 in Mardin)
  • Teacher training on football3 and sports for children (50 teachers in Mardin)
  • Training youth volunteers to play an active role in their communities (ten volunteers in Istanbul and 20 in Mardin)
  • Football3 matches (30 matches in Istanbul with 90 participants each and 50 matches in Mardin with 150 participants each)

 

Kick It Out takes up to 15 coaches on a journey of development through specially arranged opportunities with senior coaching representatives from English football.

  • Coach observation opportunities at Premier League and English Football League clubs
  • Insight into the organisation of England’s national men’s and women’s teams, with a visit to St George’s Park
  • Individual coach mentors offering personalised, one-to-one support
  • Access to coaching development courses
  • Priority invitation to Kick It Out Raise Your Game events, whose learning outcomes are uniquely focused on coach development
  • Opportunities for placements in the industry
  • Successful candidates take part in Kick It Out’s monitoring and evaluation tracking scheme

Partners

Let me play football!

Location and general information

Closed
Location Moldavie
Start date 03/01/2022
End date 02/15/2023
Cost of the project €62,939
Foundation funding €50,000
Project identifier 20210884
Partners Football Association of Moldova, Scenario NGO
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Moldova is one of Europe's poorest countries and has been politically unstable since 2006. Even then, it had one of the highest numbers of orphanages in Europe, though most of the institutionalised children were not orphans but had been given up by parents who could not afford to raise them. Unemployment in Moldova is high and young adults often move abroad to find work, leaving their children behind to be looked after by the state. They believe that what they are doing is in their children’s best interests.

Project content

The project involves a number of development programmes aimed at children living in orphanages all over the country, including facilitating access to football activities.

  • National football championship between orphanages
  • Friendly match between a national ‘dream team’ comprising children from Moldovan orphanages and a team of children from orphanages abroad
  • Scenario Smart Camp, a sports and entertainment camp for 50 children from 15 orphanages who have previously demonstrated motivation for educational activities, competitions and cultural and sports programmes run by our NGO
  • In-person maths tutoring to bring struggling children up to school standard
  • In-person English classes to help orphans living in rural institutions to improve their speaking skills
  • Christmas/New Year’s Eve sports party – an opportunity for children to have fun and make friends from other orphanages
  • Remote IT school, giving children skills that are essential in the 21st century, including the use of IT tools such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, search engines, etc.
  • Remote good manners school to give institutionalised children the social and cultural education that is normally provided by the family

Objectives

  • Provide access to sports activities, leading to better health and personal achievements among children living in orphanages
  • Provide high-quality education, motivating the children to continue through secondary and higher education
  • Help children living in orphanages to become the best version of themselves
  • Protect the children’s rights and integrate them into society so that they are no longer vulnerable and are valued as full citizens

Project activities

  • Organise a championship among orphanages
  • Provide language courses and other tutoring for 300 institutionalised children
  • Organise a Christmas and New Year’s Eve party for all children living in 15 orphanages in Moldova
  • Give children gifts
  • Provide all orphanages with supplies
  • Provide participating children with free football equipment

Expected results

For children:

  • Improved academic performance
  • Access to sport
  • Increased aspirations and self-confidence
  • Improved communication and interpersonal relationships based on respect and tolerance
  • Enriched cultural development

For retired persons and teachers:

  • Opportunities for additional earnings
  • Expansion of their social environment
  • Satisfaction of playing an important social role
  • Opportunity to put their experience to good use

Partners

Action and Fun!

Location and general information

Closed
Location Minsk and Mogilev regions, Belarus
Start date 06/01/2022
End date 04/30/2023
Cost of the project €169,050,00
Foundation funding €152,000,00
Project identifier 20210627
Partners Caritas Oberösterreich
Categories Access to Sport - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

In addition to the difficult political situation, people in Belarus are severely affected by economic hardships and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to official data and research by UNICEF Belarus, about 30,000 children live in out-of-home care, 30% of whom in state-run boarding houses, mainly for reasons of disability (46 %). State-run institutions lack the funds to make their premises accessible, invest in the surroundings or provide occupational training. Two-thirds of families with three or more children live below the poverty line, most in rural areas. More than one million people live in areas still affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Project content

The aim is to improve the psychosocial well-being of vulnerable children in Belarus by means of inclusive activities (contribution to SDG 3: improved well-being; UNCRC: right to play and exercise; UNCRPD: right to inclusion).

Partly, activities will take place in the Caritas Centre St Lucas in Borovlyany (near Minsk), a centre for children suffering from cancer and their caregivers, children’s holiday recreational activities, activities for children with disabilities and others living in the surrounding area. Other activities will be held in state-run schools, boarding houses, foster families and in parishes in the Minsk and Mogilev regions.

Objectives

Objective 1: 420 youngsters: (children suffering from cancer, children of all abilities and children of vulnerable families staying in the Caritas Centre St Lucas) can use a new, inclusive playground

Objective 2: 8,200 vulnerable children are encouraged to get more exercise during Caritas action days (Action and Fun Bus) and enjoy a more inclusive environment in state institutions

Objective 3: 40 teachers and caregivers learn how to add exercise to the everyday lives of children of all abilities

Project activities

Activity Cluster 1: Build the inclusive playground; organise special activities for children living in the surrounding area during weekends and holidays

Activity Cluster 2.1: Purchase the bus and inclusive equipment; organise ‘activity days’ in parishes and state-run boarding houses; train volunteers

Activity Cluster 2.2: Launch a call for tender for inclusive micro-projects for schools

Activity Cluster 3: Organise two train-the-trainer sessions about the programme, to develop and distribute a manual

Expected results

Result 1: An inclusive playground in the Caritas-Centre St Lucas near Minsk will be used by 420 children living with cancer and other vulnerable children

Result 2.1: 3,200 vulnerable children will be encouraged to play and to get exercise during activity days

Result 2.2: State-run institutions will provide a more inclusive environment through a micro-project tender

Result 3: 40 teachers or school staff are taught how to run the programme in their everyday work and share their knowledge with parents and colleagues

Partner

Football Friends – Together is ok !

Location and general information

Closed
Location Bosnia and Herzegovina
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €46,000
Foundation funding €35,100
Project identifier 20210180
Partners Football Friends
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The main criteria for our target groups: economically underdeveloped neighbourhoods where there are ethnic tensions and greater levels of aggression. The main criteria for the individual participants: social and economic hardships.

Project content

Football Friends – Together is ok! is for children up to the age of 14 and uses the football3 philosophy of mixing genders and ethnicities, ultimately to form teams comprising children from both cities. The activities promote peace-building and tolerance. Teams will be put together during the week in the Viber group chat, with the agreement of the participants, in preparation for games at the weekends. The stated aim is to form mixed teams, half from Foča and half from Goražde.

Objectives

  • Promote national, ethnical tolerance and cohabitation
  • Use football as the main tool of social development to prevent conflict and promote long-lasting peace
  • Promote girls’ participation in football to alter stereotypes and social roles
  • Empower young people from disadvantaged communities to use football as a tool for progress

Project activities

  • 2 months – Preparation stage and warm-up – first meeting of participants, ice-breaking and getting to know each other, learning about our organisation and best practices
  • 8 months – Football tournaments in Foča and Goražde – two per month
  • 8 months – Workshops, lectures, party

Expected results

  • 1,400 indirect beneficiaries
  • 80 direct beneficiaries
  • 50/50% female/male participants
  • 12–14: average age range of participants
  • Prevention of conflict and the promotion of long-lasting peace
  • Improved relationship between different ethnic groups
  • Altered stereotypes and social roles
  • Greater participation of girls in all football activities

Partner

Cruyff Court Velsen, Netherlands

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Velsen, Pays-Bas
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €276,812
Foundation funding €199,312
Project identifier 202110435
Partners Cruyff Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

Velsen-Noord is a community of just over 5,000 people, 30% of whom are under the age of 25. About 40% of the community are of non-Dutch heritage and the overall educational level is low. Velsen-Noord is also one of the poorest and most vulnerable in the region. Boredom causes antisocial behaviour and there has been a rise in crime over the past three years amid growing polarisation. There are few safe spaces to play sport.

Project content

A Cruyff Court will be built as a safe space for young people to play sports.

Objectives

  • Building a safe place for youngsters to come together and play sports, in particular football
  • Creating a group of local stakeholders that use sport as a way to help local youngsters develop, increasing the impact that sport has on them
  • Educate local coaches with the philosophy and vision of the Cruyff Foundation
  • Engage and develop young people in the community through organised activities

Project activities

  • Create a social agreement with local stakeholders, defining goals, allocating tasks and committing stakeholders to the project for the long term, over a ten-year period
  • Stichting SportSupport Kennemerland will organise various activities on the pitch per week for 6–12 year-olds .Welzijn Velsen will organise activities and programmes for boys and girls 13–23 years old
  • Heroes of the Cruyff Courts act as role models and organise at least one major event per year, teaching the youngsters all the skills they need
  • Train two local coaches

Expected results

  • Over 300 active children a week take part in sports and cultural activities on the court
  • 2 new Cruyff Foundation coaches in the municipality who will run projects in their neighbourhood and on the Cruyff Court
  • Increase liveability through better sports facilities in the community
  • Develop youngsters’ personal and sports skills through sports programmes
  • Increase the number of children that play sports and increase the amount of sport they play
  • Reduce polarisation by connecting youth from different cultural backgrounds

Partner

Community Champions

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Hungary, Greece, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine and United-Kingdom
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 06/30/2024
Cost of the project €389,380
Foundation funding €200,000
Project identifier 20211049
Partners EFDN
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Creating opportunities for youth to participate in safe and structured activities is a vital part of their development and the need is growing. With the aim of promoting social integration through sport, Community Champions provides the opportunity for people from different cultures to come together to build relationships and friendships while breaking down barriers through the prevention of violence, racism and intolerance in grassroots sports and their communities.

Project content

Community Champions (CC) is a social street football competition for young people aged 7 to 15 years old, organized locally across Europe. The project includes two seasons, with 12 teams in each community playing 10 games per season. Emphasis is placed on the attitudes and behaviours of the participants, more than on their footballing ability. Teams can win two-thirds of their points through Fair-Play, by completing social action projects in their communities or attending workshops.

Objectives

  • Tackle racism, discrimination and violence in sport
  • Social inclusion in and through sport
  • Promote social cohesion through sport
  • Promote active citizenship
  • Promote voluntary activity in sport
  • Promote positive involvement of parents and neighbours
  • Social inclusion and acceptance of refugees and migrants
  • Enhance social and bridging capital of participants
  • Reduction small street crime
  • Teaching valuable life skills
  • Promote healthy lifestyle

Project activities

  • 12 teams in each community per year, consisting of boys and girls, with and without a disability and from different backgrounds.
  • Teams play 10 games per season.
  • Teams will attend at least 3 workshops on racism and discrimination, fair play, and healthy lifestyles.
  • 2 Kick-off events at the beginning of each season per project partner
  • 2 Final events at the end of each season per project partner
  • Training sessions before each season
  • Teams complete regular community volunteering work.
  • The winner at the end of the season is the team that has the most points (Fair-Play, Fair Support and Volunteering in community activities points and football games points combined

Expected results

  • 8 delivering clubs.
  • 2400 participants.
  • 8 cities in 7 European countries.
  • 400 social action projects delivered in the community.
  • 216 educational workshops delivered.
  • 1440 street football matches.
  • 16 Local CC Kick-Off events.
  • 16 Local CC Finals.
  • 2 International project meetings and staff learning events.
  • 1 EFDN Conference presentation to over 200 CSR Experts.
  • 1 Project Plan
  • 1 Best Practice Handbook
  • 1 Practitioner's Guide
  • 1 Community Champions toolkit, training resources and dissemination pack
  • 1 Performance and Management Plan
  • 1 Communication and Dissemination Plan
  • 2 Interim Reports
  • 1 Final Report

Partner

Together is ok!

Location and general information

Terminé
Location Bosniaand Herzegovina
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €46,000
Foundation funding €35,100
Project identifier 20210180
Partners Football Friends
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The main criteria for our target groups: economically underdeveloped neighbourhoods where there are ethnic tensions and greater levels of aggression. The main criteria for the individual participants: social and economic hardships.

Project content

Football Friends – Together is ok! is for children up to the age of 14 and uses the football3 philosophy of mixing genders and ethnicities, ultimately to form teams comprising children from both cities. The activities promote peace-building and tolerance. Teams will be put together during the week in the Viber group chat, with the agreement of the participants, in preparation for games at the weekends. The stated aim is to form mixed teams, half from Foča and half from Goražde.

Objectives

  • Promote national, ethnical tolerance and cohabitation
  • Use football as the main tool of social development to prevent conflict and promote long-lasting peace
  • Promote girls’ participation in football to alter stereotypes and social roles
  • Empower young people from disadvantaged communities to use football as a tool for progress

Project activities

  • 2 months – Preparation stage and warm-up – first meeting of participants, ice-breaking and getting to know each other, learning about our organisation and best practices
  • 8 months – Football tournaments in Foča and Goražde – two per month
  • 8 months – Workshops, lectures, party

Expected results

  • 1,400 indirect beneficiaries
  • 80 direct beneficiaries
  • 50/50% female/male participants
  • 12–14: average age range of participants
  • Prevention of conflict and the promotion of long-lasting peace
  • Improved relationship between different ethnic groups
  • Altered stereotypes and social roles
  • Greater participation of girls in all football activities

Partner

Fitba First

Location and general information

Terminé
Location Scotland
Start date 01/03/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €59,149
Foundation funding €47,461
Project identifier 20210327
Partners The Scottish Football Partnership Trust
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Personal development

Context

The Fitba First project invests in young, vulnerable primary schoolchildren living in poverty across deprived areas of Scotland. It aims to maximise their future prospects for health and well-being by providing free-to-access fun football activities, health education and hot, healthy meals.

 

Project content

This project aims to invest in 600 young primary school children all across Scotland to help maximise their future health and well-being by providing fun, free-to-access football activities, positive nutritional messages, healthy meals (breakfast and lunch) and bespoke training in sports first aid.

Objectives

To provide 600 young primary school children with opportunities to take part in the following free activities during school holiday periods:

Football

  • Free activities help reduce the financial barriers facing many children in Scotland. The project aims to use the positive medium of football to create a sense of inclusion at the same time as improving the participants' physical and mental well-being.

 

Sports first-aid training

  • Educating children through sport. Increasing knowledge and understanding. Increasing confidence. Developing life-saving skills. Safer sport/safer communities.
  • What to do in an emergency. How to call an ambulance. Chest compressions. Using a defibrillator.
  • What do to if someone chokes. What to do is someone’s bleeding. When and how to use ice on injuries. How to help someone having an asthma attack.

 

Meals and positive nutritional messages

  • Tackling food inequalities during school holidays with the provision of free healthy breakfasts and lunches, while sending positive nutritional messages about leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Project activities

Hour 1 - Football and fitness session

Session structure:

  • Structured warm-ups and cool-downs
  • Weekly football themes – passing, dribbling, technique and control, shooting, defending and football agility
  • Fun game-related activities
  • Team-building and problem-solving activities focusing on improving confidence, communication, team-work, decision-making, respect for others and developing participants’ cognitive skills
  • Small-sided games – fun and competitive play and freedom of expression

 

Hour 2 – Positive nutritional messages and healthy, hot, homemade meal

Session structure:

  • The Eatwell Guide
  • Food groups and their purpose
  • Water and hydration
  • Energy values
  • Healthy cooked meal
  • Personal hygiene – washing hands and table manners

Expected results

  • Provide opportunities for 600 young disadvantaged children to take part in the Fitba Firs project, helping them to become happier, healthier and more engaged through the delivery of 9,600 individual hours of football activity and health education
  • Encouraging and enabling the inactive to be active
  • Developing physical confidence and competence from the earliest age
  • Improving opportunities to participate, progress and achieve in sport
  • Supporting the well-being and resilience of communities through physical activity and sport
  • Tackling food inequality

Partner

Miracoli Football Club

Location and general information

Closed
Location Rome, Italy
Start date 06/01/2022
End date 06/30/2023
Cost of the project €120,100
Foundation funding €100,100
Project identifier 20210871
Partners Calciosociale
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The Rome suburb of Corviale is characterised by the largest social housing complex, designed in the 1970s and known as ‘Serpentone’: a one-kilometre-long apartments block that is home to more than 5000 people.

Young people living in Corviale lack prospects and are highly exposed to negative life examples. This difficult context means that new ways continuously need to be found to engage them and convince them to pursue a socio-educational path. The most obvious problems are the illegal occupation of hundreds of apartments, financial issues, degradation and high rates of illiteracy and unemployment.

Project content

The Miracoli FC project aims to set up the first mixed-gender football school in Corviale based on Calciosociale® principles and values.

Miracoli FC is a revolutionary football school whose players can lay the foundations not only for solid athletic training (basic playing techniques and movement coordination) but also an education. Once a week, the children also take part in a social football tournament.

Calciosociale comprises an innovative sporting and educational methodology that totally rewrites the rules of football to enable players to develop soft skills and civic skills. Football pitches become places where those who might be perceived as ‘different’ are completely integrated. The project activities use social development as a powerful tool to promote universal human values: sociability, sharing, cooperation, respect, acceptance and acknowledgment of diversity, peace, psychological welfare, quality communication and empathy.

Objectives

  • Fostering access to sport for boys and girls facing social difficulties;
  • Fostering inclusion and reducing discrimination through football;
  • Promoting and developing emotional skills and positive social attitudes among young people in Corviale who might be drawn to antisocial behaviour and risk social exclusion.

Project activities

Monitoring

Within the organisation, a dedicated team handles the project: a project manager, educators, coaches, psychologists, and nutritionists. Regular meetings are held to follow up on progress. Before and after the project, the youngsters complete assessment tests along with short video interviews that use emotion detection system to provide both an objective and a subjective evaluation.

Football

Practice sessions are held twice a week, coordinated by expert coaches, educators, psychologists, and nutritionists. Once a week, a social football tournament is held with the Calciosociale rules.

Every year, the tournament has a specific theme that enhances the educational value of the project. The chosen topic inspires the names of the teams. For example, topics related to legality and inclusion (the articles of the Italian Constitution, role models), words that have a strong meaning for the youngsters (such as friendship, courage, union, etc.).

This year, the topic was environmental protection and the youngsters chose the names of women and men who fought for this cause. Some of the off-the-pitch activities were also based on this topic.

Expected results

  • Networking: Local associations and institutions jointly decide what activities are to be carried out off the pitch throughout the year;
  • Active change: Football helps participants become change makers;
  • Promotion of the suburbs: Activities enable Corviale to open up to the rest of the city;
  • Self-confidence: Working towards a common goal (on and off the pitch) and seeing the results improves youngsters’ self-confidence and their sense of empowerment;
  • Reduction in prejudice: Playing in a team alongside people who have a different ethnic, social or religious background or with a disability will help youngsters to overcome stereotypes;
  • Social and civic awareness;
  • Reduced anxiety.

Partner

Path of a Champion

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Serbia
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 02/01/2023
Cost of the project €90,000
Foundation funding €30,000
Project identifier 20210486
Partners Novak Djokovic Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Personal development

Context

The role of parents in sports is more important than ever, especially in children’s early years. The Path of a Champion project aims to give parents the education and knowledge they need to provide much-needed support to their children. It will teach parents about the benefits of sport for their children as well as the potential challenges. Studies have shown that 46% of children give up sport by the age of 14 due to stress or pressure from parents to compete.

Project content

The project aims to create a happier and healthier sports environment for children by educating and supporting parents.

Objectives

  • Improving parents’ knowledge of sport in general
  • Improving parents’ self-regulation skills in the sports environment
  • Improving parents’ ability to motivate their children to start and continue to play sports
  • Educating parents on how to choose a fun and happy sports environment for their children

Project activities

  • Interactive workshops for parents with videos of athletes, their parents and their coaches sharing their experiences and the challenges they faced
  • Online panel discussions and lectures featuring guest speakers, with a live Q&A session for parents

Expected results

  • Improving parents’ knowledge and awareness of the importance of sport for their children’s development and growth
  • Making the sports environment healthier and happier for children, and encouraging more children to get involved in sport

Partner