Goals for children, equity and the environment

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Nicoya Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Start date 09/14/2020
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €210,000
Foundation funding €20,000
Project identifier 2024000308
Partners Fútbol por mi país
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Costa Rica faces several economic, social and environmental challenges that are hindering its growth and development. Rural areas and marginalised communities, especially women and children, are disproportionately affected. 

Project goals

  • Empower and educate children through football, giving them the tools needed to make informed life choices so that they can build a better future for themselves and their community 
  • Expand our programme within the communities that we currently serve to increase overall participation, including at least 40% girls and women, and to ensure more consistent attendance from all participants 
  • Encourage more parents and guardians to take part in our monthly family workshops 
  • Extend our reach to neighbouring communities such as Las Delicias and Valle Azul 
  • Offer more environmental activities such as beach clean-ups and recycling drives in partnership with other organisations to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious and empower them to make a difference 
  • Organise a tournament on the Nicoya Peninsula to increase engagement and promote the benefits of our programme 

Project content

Fútbol X Mi País (FxP) is a free after-school programme that offers children a safe space to learn, socialise and exercise. We use an approach developed by Fútbol con Corazón Colombia that combines football with learning and skills development to achieve our goals. The programme is centred around four fundamental values: honesty, tolerance, respect and solidarity. FxP also encourages participants to be environmentally conscious and take care of community assets. 

Our coaches work with teachers to ensure that programme participants are enrolled in school and we encourage parents and local businesses to get involved.  

  • Learning through football 

Certified coaches run eight to ten monthly sessions that promote personal development and life skills training through football. After each 90-minute session, participants discuss and reflect on what they have learnt to deepen their understanding of the topic. Local businesses, parents and volunteers prepare snacks, fostering a sense of community. 

At the end of the year, participants take part in a life project that encourages them to imagine and build a better future for themselves and their communities. 

Each year we focus on the programme’s fundamental values of honesty, tolerance, respect and solidarity, while also teaching teamwork, non-violence and gender equality, healthy and responsible sexual relationships and drug and alcohol awareness.  

  • Inclusive football matches  

We organise two inclusive, non-traditional football matches a month. Participants decide on the match rules and then play in mixed teams without a referee. They are responsible for following and enforcing these rules to ensure a fair and respectful game. After the match, they evaluate and assess their behaviour, which helps them to embody these values and learn from the experience. 

  • Family workshops 

Once a month, our coaches meet with the participants’ families to discuss and review the work being done on the field and to help families gain a deeper understanding of the methodology behind our programme.  

During the sessions we address any concerns about the participants’ education and give the families tasks to complete at home, creating meaningful opportunities to apply and reinforce what the children have learned in their daily lives. We also use these sessions to encourage parents to volunteer and support our coaches. 

  • Environmental education sessions and sustainability activities  

We organise public clean-ups of football fields, parks, streets and beaches alongside football practice to benefit our community. We also run educational workshops on the importance of recycling and reducing our environmental impact. These activities encourage environmental awareness, empower participants and help to maintain the beauty of our public spaces. Some of the beaches we have cleaned have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag status. This recognition strengthens community pride and fosters a sense of shared responsibility for the environment. 

  • Regional tournament   

We will organise a monthly regional tournament to engage new communities and football academies. This initiative will enable us to reach an additional 100+ children, fostering collaboration and participation among diverse groups, raising awareness of the benefits of our approach and ultimately contributing to children’s development in these communities. 

Partners

Sports for Resilience and Empowerment Project (SREP): Primary school construction

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Masindi district, Uganda
Start date 02/15/2025
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €300,000
Foundation funding €170,000
Project identifier 2024000336
Partners Aliguma Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

The situation in Masindi district reflects the challenges faced by rural areas in Uganda, where access to quality education is severely limited. Many children attend overcrowded and under-resourced schools with high dropout rates and poor academic performance. In addition, the socio-economic conditions are such that children are often forced to prioritise labour over education, leaving many without the skills and knowledge they need for a better future. 

This project addresses the shortage of adequate infrastructure, trained teachers and teaching materials, breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in the future of the region's children. 

Project goals

  1. Build a modern primary school: establishing a well-equipped and safe teaching facility and an environment that is conducive to learning for children in rural Masindi
  1. Enhance access to quality education: ensuring that children in the region have access to quality education, reducing the barriers associated with inadequate infrastructure and resources
  1. Promote social inclusion: creating opportunities for all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special needs, to get an education and participate fully in their communities
  1. Improve educational outcomes: improving schoolchildren’s academic performance and overall development by providing better learning conditions, teacher training and educational materials
  1. Empower the community: engaging the local community in the development and maintenance of the school, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility 
  1. Support holistic development: integrating sport and extracurricular activities into the school curriculum to promote physical health, teamwork and life skills
  1. Reduce dropout rates: addressing contributing factors and creating a supportive and engaging school environment
  1. Strengthen teacher capacity: providing training and resources for teachers to improve the quality of instruction and support effective learning
  1. Promote gender equality: ensuring that girls have equal access to education and opportunities, contributing to gender equality and empowerment
  1. Foster sustainability: developing strategies to support the school’s long-term sustainability and lasting impact, including community involvement and partnerships

Project content

  • Planning and construction of a primary school in the Masindi district of Uganda
  • Teacher training and curriculum development
  • Provision of teaching materials and other resources
  • Community engagement and outreach

Partners

Sports development programme

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location South Africa
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €166,000
Foundation funding €30,000
Project identifier 2024001091
Partners Grootbos Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Gansbaai, like other semi-rural areas in South Africa, struggles with youth unemployment, resulting in limited opportunities and a pervasive lack of hope among young people.

The situation is compounded by a number of challenges typical of disadvantaged communities: elevated school drop-out rates, poor public transport, gender-based violence, alcoholism, drug use, high levels of depression and other socio-economic pressures.

Project goals

  • Offer an engaging, fun sports programme during and after school to ensure that children and teenagers have a safe place to go, accompanied by trained adult coaches (target: 3,000 children)
  • Teach mental health and coping skills, menstrual health, gender-based violence awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness, wildlife conservation and nutritional health to support the local schools’ educational programmes, giving children hope and encouraging them to persevere with formal education
  • Deliver inclusive programmes to people of all ethnicities, ages, genders and abilities to ensure no one is left behind
  • Ensure awareness of nature and encourage conservation efforts
  • Help young people pursue careers and achieve financial stability to reduce dependence on state aid

Project content

  • In-school programme: physical education projects in 10 schools, and assistance with subject choice and career planning for teenagers
  • After-school multi-sport coaching: football, netball, hockey, girls' rugby, cross-country running, athletics, water safety, surfing, canoeing, gross motor skills for early childhood, adapted games for young people with special needs
  • Four holiday programmes a year
  • Tournaments and competitions
  • Mental health projects using surf therapy
  • Ocean and land conservation programmes
  • Awareness projects that use football to address gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS
  • Menstrual health/sanitary pad project
  • Rising stars project offering elite sporting opportunities
  • Training modules for coaching staff

Partners

Getting Opportunities and Learning in Social Studies (GOAL-S)

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Nepal
Start date 03/01/2025
End date 02/28/2026
Cost of the project €25,250
Foundation funding €25,000
Project identifier 2024000997
Partners Childreach Nepal
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

The Chepang are among Nepal’s most disadvantaged indigenous groups, classified as 'highly marginalised' based on various socio-economic indicators including population size, literacy rate, housing conditions, land ownership, occupation and access to higher education. Nearly 90% of the Chepang population lives below the poverty line.

A recent study by the District Public Health Office revealed that 45 to 86% of Chepang girls in Makwanpur marry between the ages of 12 and 15 – despite child marriage being outlawed in Nepal since 1963. Poverty, lack of education and awareness, and limited availability of food and opportunities to generate income are considered major contributing factors.

Project goals

Main objectives

  • Empower children to recognise and assert their right to protection from abuse
  • Establish strong collaboration and a unified approach to safeguarding children among parents, schools and communities in Makwanpur District
  • Develop and implement innovative, play-based teaching methods that foster active, immersive learning

Additional objectives

  • Incorporate sport and play in education and ensure that all children have access to structured recreational activities in school to support learning and engagement
  • Design and implement a sports-based curriculum that addresses critical social issues such as child protection, equality and harmful traditions
  • Encourage children to challenge stereotypes and advocate for their rights, fostering a culture of openness and empowerment
  • Raise awareness among parents and communities about child protection using engaging, sports-driven outreach programmes
  • Provide training for teachers and community youth leaders to integrate immersive, play-based techniques into their teaching practices

The GOAL-S project has already achieved positive outcomes, including increased participation, especially among girls, and heightened community awareness of child protection issues.

Project content

  • Weekly sports sessions led by trained youth leaders for approximately 300 children aged 11 to 14
  • Social studies curriculum that delivers key messages on child protection, educates children about their rights and encourages them to discuss what they learn with their parents, caregivers and other family members
  • Tailored games and activities that promote behavioural change to help children assert and claim their rights
  • Active consultation and engagement of teachers to incorporate their expertise and understanding of their students' needs, including a process of co-creation and delivery through which teachers acquire new skills in play-based pedagogy that they can apply in various contexts
  • Capacity development workshops and mentorship for teachers and youth leaders
  • Child protection training for parents and community members, with a view to co-creating a child protection mechanism
  • An annual football festival involving children, parents and community members to raise awareness of children’s rights and abuse prevention

Partners

Empowering Zambian adolescents to conserve nature through sport

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Basanga community, Musungwa chiefdom, Itezhi-Tezhi district, Southern Province, Zambia
Start date 03/31/2027
End date 03/31/2027
Cost of the project €125,250
Foundation funding €54,750
Project identifier 2024000945
Partners Game Rangers International
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Over two-thirds of the estimated 12,000 people living in the remote Basanga community are under the age of 19. These children and adolescents face many challenges, including a lack of education, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare.

Basanga lies on the edge of Zambia’s largest and oldest protected area, Kafue National Park, a rich ecosystem home to 30% of the country’s total elephant population and countless large carnivore species. Desperate community members living in poverty are drawn to poaching as they face scare employment opportunities and may not see the value of natural resources. At the same time, the absence of law enforcement lowers their risk perception. Single unemployed women in Zambia are particularly vulnerable to being exploited by the illegal wildlife trade. Women are considerably less likely than men to report wildlife crime and are drawn to exchange information, sex and secure accommodation on the borders of the park for bushmeat or money. This dangerous cycle of transactional sex perpetuates the spread of HIV, gender-based violence and unwanted pregnancies.

Project goals

  • Reduce wildlife crime in and around Kafue National Park by raising awareness of conservation efforts and empowering young people through vocational training
  • Improve young people’s health, well-being, problem-solving, leadership and resilience
  • Prevent unplanned pregnancies, child marriage and sexual and spousal violence in Basanga by championing sexual health education and empowering girls

Project content

Game Rangers International (GRI) is building a multi-purpose community youth sports centre for the Basanga community. Over the next two years, with critical support from the UEFA Foundation for Children, GRI will engage, educate and empower children and adolescents at the centre, helping them to develop their skills and surrounding them with positive role models.

To this end, GRI will:

  • Recruit and train a groundsman responsible for security and maintenance
  • Recruit and train a community outreach ranger to schedule activities, develop content, coordinate partnerships and facilitate sessions
  • Furnish and equip the centre so it can serve as a classroom, exhibition space, sports centre and outreach office
  • Decorate the centre with conservation awareness posters and information
  • Encourage children and adolescents to visit through radio broadcasts, posters and school visits
  • Offer structured weekly football training and fitness sessions for children and adolescents
  • Establish a vocational skills station and invite local professionals to offer short vocational courses for young people
  • Offer children and adolescents training on environmental conservation, girls’ empowerment and life skills

Partners

Football for All

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Vietnam: Cao Bang, Can Tho, Ha Giang and Quang Tri provinces, and an additional two provinces in the Mekong Delta (provinces tbc based on feasibility studies)
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2026
Cost of the project €159,951
Foundation funding €101,733
Project identifier 2024001059
Partners Football Association of Norway (Football for All in Vietnam project)
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In many ethnic minorities in Vietnam, boys enjoy more social and cultural opportunities than girls, who are expected to grow up to be wives and mothers. Girls therefore tend to be less educated, forced into early marriage and denied the chance to develop in other areas of life.

Project goals

  • Raise awareness of gender equality among ethnic minorities by fostering equal participation of women and girls in football and life skills education
  • Empower and equip girls and women in an additional two provinces by offering leadership training based on the Football for All in Vietnam model that has been funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children in Ha Giang province since 2022

Project content

The 138 football clubs in Ha Giang, Quang Tri, Cao Bang and Can Tho provinces that were funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children between 2022 and 2024 will be given additional football equipment and continued support, and new clubs created, with:

  • football coaching courses at 41 new football clubs in Quang Tri and Cao Bang provinces;
  • training courses for female life skills instructors at each new club;
  • climate change education at the clubs in Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces in the far north of the country;
  • regular football and life skill activities at all 138 existing clubs; and
  • 118 ‘Fun Football Festivals’ at the existing clubs.

The project will also be extended to another two provinces, with:

  • a feasibility study in each province;
  • the creation of 30 new football clubs, with football coaching and life skills training courses at each club;
  • 30 ‘Fun Football Festivals’ (one per club);and
  • two provincial ‘Fun Football Festivals’ (one per province).

Partners

READY TO USE FFAV OFFICIAL Logo

Improvement of the protective environment and well-being of children at the Habbena recreation centre in N’Djamena

Location and general information

En cours
Location Chad, N'Djamena
Start date 03/01/2025
End date 02/28/2027
Cost of the project €159,592
Foundation funding €120,000
Project identifier 2024001047
Partners INTERSOS
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

There is a serious lack of sports infrastructure in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad. There are few existing facilities and many government-planned projects from 2008 remain incomplete or unusable. Access to sport is therefore limited, particularly for young people in working-class neighbourhoods. Despite recent progress, including the construction of a new sports complex and ongoing stadium renovations, current initiatives fail to meet the growing needs.

Project goals

Improve the lives of thousands of children in N’Djamena by expanding access to safe, inclusive sports spaces that foster physical, personal and social development, while promoting inclusion, respect and solidarity.

Project content

Development of sports infrastructure

The project will improve the sports facilities at Habbena recreation centre by installing a natural grass football field and a running track. Children and community leaders will actively plant and maintain the grass, promoting both environmental awareness and skills development. Additionally, drainage systems will be constructed to prevent flooding, ensuring year-round accessibility and reducing the health risks associated with stagnant water and waterborne diseases.

Environmental awareness and personal hygiene

Children will take part in educational sessions on hygiene and cleanliness to teach them the importance of a clean and safe environment. Waste management initiatives will be introduced, including the installation of bins, handwashing stations and toilets and a maintenance schedule for the common areas will be drawn up. Community leaders and youth club members will be trained to lead environmental awareness activities, encouraging long-term engagement. Special environmental days will be organised, with children taking part in activities that foster responsibility and sustainability.

Child protection and psychosocial support

The project will establish child-friendly spaces within the centre, offering recreational and life skills activities to support children’s well-being and social cohesion. These spaces will be run by trained members of the community and will be inclusive for people of all genders and any disabilities. A listening centre will provide psychosocial support, with skilled social workers identifying and referring cases of psychological distress. Around 150 children will receive psychosocial support through individual and group sessions. Service mapping will be conducted to ensure cases are properly referred to existing health and social services in N’Djamena.

School reintegration and gender-based violence referrals

The project encourages out-of-school children to resume their education by bringing them together with children attending school. A cohort of 60 children (60% girls) will receive support reintegrating into school over two years, with the project covering school fees and essential supplies. For those past school age, referral pathways will be established for informal education opportunities or vocational training. Additionally, children and adolescents identified as survivors of gender-based violence will be referred to specialised service providers, including the one-stop centres managed by the government and supported by several United Nations agencies and offices.

Partners

Aktive Jen Yo (Activating young people)

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Haiti, Villages of Destra, Carrefour Croix and Bossan, near Léogâne
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €389,655
Foundation funding €55,200
Project identifier 2024000247
Partners GOALS Haiti (Global Outreach and Love of Soccer)
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Haiti faces extreme crises: unprecedented insecurity, gang violence, absence of government, severe fuel shortages, 40% inflation and a cholera epidemic, all amid ongoing natural disasters. Women and children are subjected to gang violence and assault, with obvious and very harmful effects on their physical and mental health, not to mention the collective anxiety and trauma of the country as a whole.

GOALS serves communities in rural Haiti where no other non-profits or government services exist, people suffer from isolation and extreme poverty, and children’s access to healthcare and education is extremely limited.

GOALS was created to use the power of sport to engage young people in underserved areas with education and leadership opportunities that support their physical, mental and social development. Aktive Jen Yo includes daily football, ‘purposeful play’, literacy and health education and community service. We focus on teaching social and life skills in a safe and empowering space, with equal access for girls and boys.

Project goals

Overall goal

Empower the young people of Haiti through structured football programmes combined with educational and health initiatives, leveraging the universal appeal of football to engage children and adolescents from underserved communities in support of their physical, mental and social development

Specific objectives

  • Physical health: Improve young people’s fitness and health awareness through regular football training and wellness activities
  • Education: Provide educational workshops and literacy classes to plug formal schooling gaps
  • Life skills: Cultivate leadership, teamwork and problem-solving through sport and targeted life skills training
  • Mental health: Offer mental health workshops and counselling sessions to support emotional well-being
  • Community engagement: Initiate community service projects to foster a sense of civic responsibility and investments in community

Project content

  • Football – daily training, friendly matches and tournaments plus ‘purposeful play’ (conflict resolution, gender equality)
  • Health education – disease prevention, sex education, gender-based violence, hygiene
  • Climate action – tree planting, recycling, community gardens, climate and gender education
  • Leadership training – projects addressing community issues led by youngsters
  • Schooling – literacy programme, tutoring
  • Community service – volunteering projects
  • Gender equity – activities to promote inclusion and equal opportunities for girls, plus education on children’s and women’s rights

Partners

Environmental Youth Ball Games and Community Competitions

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Zimbabwe, Southeast Lowveld
Start date 02/01/2025
End date 11/30/2025
Cost of the project €20,848
Foundation funding €20,000
Project identifier 2024001386
Partners African Wildlife Conservation Fund (UK)
Categories Environmental protection - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Zimbabwe’s young people have borne the brunt of years of economic and political instability. Rural communities, in particular, are marginalised and deprived of educational and extracurricular activities. This disadvantage is compounded by conflicts between human populations and the surrounding wildlife and a lack of appreciation for the value of the ecosystem.

These challenges make young people susceptible to unsustainable, environmentally detrimental behaviour such as poaching, deforestation and over-consumption of natural resources.

Project goals

Overall goal

Engage thousands of people each year in Environmental Youth Ball Games and Community Competition Days to bring whole communities together, from children to village elders, in celebration of the environment and to share critical wildlife messages

Specific objectives

  • Engage an at-risk, young demographic in environmentalism and inspire a change of attitude towards wildlife and the conservation sector
  • Provide a rare opportunity for children and young adults to access sport and the arts
  • Share proven human-wildlife coexistence strategies with rural communities to support the management of conflict
  • Share important messaging on the sustainable use of natural resources and build rural resilience to climate challenges

We expect to engage at least 5,000 rural Zimbabweans in 10 Environmental Youth Ball Games and 10 Community Competitions over the course of 10 months, including:

  • 1,200 footballers
  • 700 netball players
  • 800 schoolchildren
  • 240 teachers/headteachers
  • >2,000 community spectators

Project content

  • Ten netball and football tournaments (Environmental Youth Ball Games)
    Each tournament lasts six to eight weeks. The four teams that make the finals (netball and football) compete in front of a large crowd on the morning of the local Community Competition Day.
  • Ten environmental challenges (Community Competitions)
    Teams from local schools compete in drama, poetry, model-making and poster-making, presenting their messages to the community about locally relevant and urgent environmental, climate or wildlife needs

Partners

Kick the Ball, Save our Wildlife

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Kenya, Narok County, Lemek Wildlife Conservancy
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €38,214
Foundation funding €30,000
Project identifier 2024000239
Partners Water4Wildlife Maasai Mara
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

Home to diverse wildlife species, the Maasai Mara ecosystem is a vital part of Kenya’s natural heritage, tourism industry and conservation efforts. It is also home to marginalised communities in which girls in particular face barriers to personal development and recreation. They are often overprotected, restricted to household chores and denied opportunities for outdoor activities like football, limiting their growth and potential.

Project goals

  • Promote gender equality and empowerment: Break down cultural barriers and challenge gender norms by creating opportunities for girls to engage in football and community activities
  • Foster wildlife conservation awareness: Educate and inspire the next generation of conservationists by connecting girls with female wildlife game rangers and teaching them about the importance of preserving the Maasai Mara ecosystem
  • Enhance life skills and education: Provide mentorship and workshops to improve girls' life skills, mental health, reproductive health awareness and leadership abilities, empowering them for personal and professional growth
  • Strengthen community support for girls' development: Build community engagement and support for girls' participation in recreational and educational activities, promoting an inclusive environment
  • Develop sustainable infrastructure for recreation and learning: Construct a football pitch and a girls' community social hall to offer a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for girls to engage in football and mentorship programmes

Project content

  • Site preparation: Site clearance and environmental surveys to prepare the area for the construction of a football pitch and a girls' community social hall
  • Infrastructure development: Construction of a mini football pitch and a girls' community social hall
  • Football activities: Provision of football kits and monthly football sessions for girls, encouraging active participation and teamwork
  • Mentorship: Mentorship sessions with female wildlife game rangers invited to talk about their careers and inspire girls to pursue opportunities in conservation and leadership
  • Educational workshops: Monthly workshops focusing on life skills, mental health, reproductive health, gender-based violence, sexually transmitted diseases and leadership
  • Community engagement: Work with the local community to support girls’ participation in football and education, promoting acceptance and encouragement
  • Project launch: A launch event featuring a football session and a conservation talk to introduce the project and engage stakeholders
  • Project monitoring: Tracking of participation rates, participant feedback and community responses to ensure the activities are effective and aligned with the objectives

Partners

Life Champions 3.0: Every child has a right to be a life champion!

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Serbia, Belgrade and other cities in the region
Start date 12/01/2024
End date 11/30/2025
Cost of the project €268,500
Foundation funding €120,000
Project identifier 2024000105
Partners Development Center for Youth
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Knowing that every child is a champion, we have directly communicated the Life Champions concept and values to more than 5,000 children and young adults throughout the Belgrade region, with priority given to sensitive target groups such as children from deprived areas and girls in sport. However, we are aware that many children are not addressed directly and therefore do not get the message, in particular children in the social welfare system (children without parental care). There are 32 institutions for such children in Serbia alone, housing 145,000 children, all of whom deserve the opportunity to become life champions.

Project goals

Overall goal: to better integrate children in the social welfare system in the Life Champions sporting and educational activities.

Specific targets

  • Adjust the training already developed to the needs and realities of this particular target group to equip 30 coaches from the Life Champions network to work with children in social welfare institutions
  • Pilot the adjusted training through four months of Life Champions activities with at least 300 children from six different institutions (48 sessions)
  • Organise sporting and educational camps for at least 720 children from social welfare institutions to support their social and personal development
  • Reach 3,000,000 people with a media campaign
  • Formulate recommendations on the further use of sport in work with children living in institutions, and empower institutions themselves to use sport and a collaborative approach to multiply the opportunities available to the children in their care

Project content

Life Champions 3.0 is envisaged as a 12-month partnership between the Development Center for Youth (project coordinator), the DEKI 5 football camp and AP Brera Strumica, a Macedonian football club based in Strumica. The initiative aims to break down barriers and foster an inclusive environment where all children can enjoy and learn from sport.

The basic Life Champions concept remains the same: using sport to support children’s upbringing and education. Tailored training will give Life Champions coaches the information, knowledge and skills they need to properly support and engage children in the social welfare system in sporting and educational activities.

The project will include different types of activity – open football days, training and mentoring, and sporting and educational camps – all with the aim of better including children living in institutional settings in the Life Champions concept, giving them additional knowledge and skills and supporting their social and personal development.

To achieve sustainable results will require partnerships with football clubs and other non-governmental organisations involved in education through sport, and resources to ensure that both the children themselves and the coaches working with them can thrive and achieve mutual growth and development.

Partners

Youth Sports Games 2025

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia
Start date 01/13/2025
End date 09/30/2025
Cost of the project €7,823,513
Foundation funding €200,000
Project identifier 2024000728
Partners Association for Sport, Recreation and Education
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle

Context

The Youth Sports Games are the largest amateur sports event for children and young people in Europe, and more than 3 million children have competed in them since they were launched 28 years ago in Croatia. The 2025 Youth Games will be held in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.

Project goals

  • Bring children and young people together and give them the chance to participate in sport and recreational activities completely free of charge
  • Provide a positive atmosphere and support the education and development of children and young people, encouraging sport, friendship, understanding, solidarity and fair play as alternatives to addiction and deviant behaviour
  • Deliver a modern and up-to-date educational message, from young people to young people, with the goal of preventing all types of addiction and supporting health and social projects and programmes

In 2025, more than 340,000 participants are expected to take part. One of this year’s goals is to expand to more than 400 towns and cities and engage 25,000 female football players. National finals in all four countries should attract 8,000 participants, while 2,000 young people will participate in the international finals.

Project content

Children aged 6 to 18 participate in tournaments held in over 400 towns and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. They compete in ten events (football, street basketball, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, table tennis, chess, dodgeball and athletics), and the most successful individuals and teams then go on to take part in national and international finals. The association covers all expenses (accommodation, travel and entry fees) for the international finals. A special focus is placed on organising football tournaments for girls. In addition to the games, the association organises regular sports and recreational activities for children to promote health, tolerance and ethical values, and educates participants about sustainability.

Partners

Promoting Inclusive Education through Accessible Sports

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Kosovo, Prizren, Pejë and Mitrovicë
Start date 02/17/2025
End date 02/16/2026
Cost of the project €158,761
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2024000431
Partners Save the Children
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Kosovo is the poorest country in the western Balkans, according to the World Bank. Around 100,000 people are disabled, including 38,000 children who are not in school.

Educational disparities are particularly severe among Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, 45% of whose children do not attend school.

There is a significant lack of investment in inclusive school infrastructure, especially sports halls. Most schools lack accessible facilities and adaptive equipment, further marginalising disabled children and limiting their opportunities.

Project goals

Main goal

Create inclusive physical education environments in three schools.

Specific objectives

  • Give access to inclusive education and accessible sport facilities to the children most impacted by inequality and discrimination
  • Support teaching staff with inclusive tools and a guide to inclusive sports activities, to provide personalised instruction that is tailored to each child’s abilities and needs
  • Organise awareness-raising campaigns and peer-to-peer engagement as a result of which children and communities experience increased inclusion and reduced stigma

Project content

  • Adaptive devices and equipment for three schools to create accessible education and sports activities
  • A guide and training on inclusive sports practices, education and participation for up to 100 teachers
  • Child-friendly awareness raising campaigns, including a promotional video and social media content, and recreational initiatives to promote inclusion and reduce stigma for the children most impacted by inequalities and discrimination

Partners

Playing with Corals. Football as a gateway toward climate action and marine awareness

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Republic of Maldives, Faafu Atoll
Start date 02/01/2024
End date 01/31/2026
Cost of the project €203,430
Foundation funding €101,930
Project identifier 20230488
Partners MaRHE Center, University of Milano-Bicocca
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

The 1,200 islands of the Maldives are home to one of the most threatened animal groups in the world: corals! The archipelago depends on the reefs for the ecosystem services they provide through tourism, fisheries and coastal protection. This precious ecosystem is suffering due to sea-level rise, extreme weather events causing beach erosion and potentially population migrations.

In this scenario, it is imperative for upcoming generations, even in remote places, to become environmental ambassadors and ocean guardians and to spearhead initiatives for ocean protection.

There is an opportunity for football to be the gateway to climate action and marine awareness.

Project goals

  • Use football as a tool to motivate children to conserve the environment
  • Foster children's resilience, lowering their vulnerabilities and increasing their personal resources through football
  • Innovate communication strategies on climate change and environmental awareness
  • Link sport and practical reef restoration activities to create a new generation of coral guardians
  • Create a replicable model for the use of sport as a link between environmental conservation and a healthy lifestyle

Project content

The project combines football training with marine conservation, engaging with trainers and children through educational activities (SDG4) while teaching the principles of a healthy lifestyle (SDG3), environmental protection (SDG13), and active efforts for reef preservation and rehabilitation. Football is a way to engage with a large pool of children, build local capacity, inspire the younger generation, bridge the gap between male and female participation (SDG5), improve physical skills, and take part in active coral reef conservation (SDG14).

Environmental awareness will be promoted by combining educational activities that provide a theory background with the practice of coral restoration. Finally, the ‘train the trainers’ sessions will ensure a long-lasting replicable model to build local capacity of football trainers and restoration practitioners.

The project will be run on Faafu as a collaboration between two experts in their fields:

  • The Marine Research and Higher Education Center (MaRHE Center) of the University of Milano-Bicocca
  • Inter Campus, the international CSR department of F.C. Inter Milano

The MaRHE Center has been carrying out research and educational activities in the fields of environmental science and marine biology, tourism science, and human geography in the Maldives since 2009.

Since 1997, Inter Campus has entered into collaboration agreements with selected NGOs and institutions throughout the world. Inter Campus supports their social programmes in favour of children in need, using football as an educational tool and as an incentive towards further social objectives, such as inclusion, integration, education, dialogue in divided communities and active participation in society. It offers free technical clinics for adults, restores the right to play for children, and promotes the development of local communities, while respecting their needs and contextual characteristics.

Faafu Atoll, south-west of the country's capital, Male, comprises five islands (Feeali, Bileiydhoo, Magoodhoo, Dharanboodhoo, Nilandhoo). Here, ten local educators will be trained by MaRHE Center and Inter Campus staff in four weekly sessions over two years. Throughout the year, overseen remotely by the organising team, the local trainers will conduct weekly sessions on their own islands, engaging in both football and marine activities, which include coral reef restoration.

The direct project beneficiaries over the two years will be:

  • 5 islands
  • More than 10 trainers
  • 200 teenagers and pre-teens aged 10–14 (40 per island), 25% of which are girls

Partner

Inclusive Goal

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Argentina, Buenos Aires
Start date 02/01/2024
End date 02/01/2025
Cost of the project €126,000
Foundation funding €60,000
Project identifier 20231168
Partners Asociacion Civil Andar
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

People with disabilities are excluded from our society and need to have access to normalised spaces. Social barriers segregate them and deprive them of the opportunity to develop in the various spheres of social life. This impacts their development and imposes limits on their opportunities to carry out a life plan freely and independently.

Project goals

  • Eliminate cultural barriers to access sports development
  • Build role models that promote gender equality and equal access regardless of gender
  • Promote empowerment by practising decision-making and its consequences through play

Project content

We at Andar FC Academy believe that one of the best ways to positively impact the lives of children is through play, thereby developing the values and life skills that enable them to cope with the challenges of their environment Our approach through sport contributes to children’s inclusion, promotes the respect of their rights and gender equality, prevents situations of violence and encourages development of life skills, which will have a positive impact on their sports and socioemotional development. No child or adolescent should be left behind, regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language, culture or religion, so all of our activities are tailored to meet their specific learning and skill needs.

Partner

Diangsport (Education through sport in Wolof)

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Senegal, Mbour and Saly
Start date 12/06/2023
End date 12/31/2024
Cost of the project €31,000
Foundation funding €21,000
Project identifier 20230494
Partners Association Kenskoazell Afrika (AKA)
Categories Access to Sport - Environmental protection - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

At the inauguration of the Lycée Demba Diop (multi-sports field and multi-purpose hall in 2022), three head teachers came to ask us to help their schools as they were lacking sports facilities.

After visiting the schools in June last year, we decided to adapt the Educafoot programme used in primary schools to the needs of these high schools, offering sports and educational events along with an environmental and health-based approach, including menstrual education for the girls.

Project goals

Help the children to develop and become tomorrow’s adult citizens. To fulfil this goal, our programme covers several topics, such as gender equality, access to sport, environmental education, sporting values, a work ethic, self-improvement, social coexistence, adhering to rules, respect for opponents and health education. The aim is to enhance the children’s mental and physical well-being.

Project content

We use a toolbox comprising multiple approaches to achieve our objectives. For example, we have mixed teams in the various events, and both girls and boys are given the chance to referee in order to develop leadership and decision-making skills. We educate the children about environmental issues by showing them a film and discussing it, followed by an activity making a net out of plastic waste, and have them help clean the school before each game. We organise French and maths competitions. We set up joint captainship and address health issues, in particular menstruation for the girls.

Partner