Game with Mum & Dad

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Europe, Latin America and Caribbean
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €599,000
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2024001152
Partners Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE)
Categories Gender Equality - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

More than 20 million children worldwide (2.1 million in Europe; 3.5 million in Latin America and Caribbean) are separated from an imprisoned parent, an experience that often causes children overwhelming sadness, grief and anxiety, in addition to the pains of stigmatisation and shame. There are few programmes structurally embedded within prisons that support children with imprisoned parents. Their rights and best interests deserve much greater attention from governments and society at large.

Project goals

GWMD uses football as an instrument for awareness-raising and societal progress with three main objectives:

  • To defend the rights and best interests of a particularly vulnerable population representing more than 1% of the world child population.
  • To support children's wellbeing by strengthening the child-parent bond imperilled by a parent’s detention.
  • To foster inclusion and empower children, despite the existence of prison walls and by working with prison authorities.

 

Project content

GWMD supports the all-important child-parent bond by bringing families together for a day of play, hugs and laughs. It builds on a model first developed in Italy and recently broadened in 2023 and 2024 to 10 other European nations as well as India. In 2025 we plan to expand to Argentina, Chile, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, for a total of 21 countries. We apply the same methodology everywhere to ensure that child rights, child participation and child safeguarding remain paramount.

Partners

Empowering Mchinji Youth Through Sports

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Malawi, Mchinji district
Start date 02/01/2025
End date 07/31/2026
Cost of the project €92,347
Foundation funding €36,938
Project identifier 2024001465
Partners Our Aim Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

The health and community centre in Tongozala, built in April 2019, includes a playground for younger children and a volleyball pitch for older ones. Our next ambition is to construct a multipurpose sports field and provide equipment for popular local sports like football and netball, as well as traditional dances and games, making it possible to organise training sessions, form teams and leagues, and host tournaments and friendly matches.

Project goals

  • Physical activity: Increase physical activity among 40,000 participants in 18 months (100,000 over the next three years)
  • Young sports leaders: Train at least 25 young leaders in sports-related skills and mentorship (50 in three years)
  • Community sports events: Organise four community-wide sports events a year (one every quarter), involving as much of the community as possible, as players and spectators
  • Coaching for brilliant athletes: Identify and provide specialised training (mentoring and coaching) to 25 particularly promising young athletes (at least 50 over the next three years)
  • Gender-equal participation: Ensure equal participation of girls and boys

Project content

  • Renovation of the existing playground and volleyball pitch by levelling the ground, marking boundaries and installing durable goalposts and netball poles, high-quality nets, perimeter fencing, benches for players and spectators, and proper drainage to enable year-round use
  • Cost-effective procurement of equipment for football, netball and selected traditional games and dances, including goalposts, nets, balls and kit
  • Weekly training sessions led by local coaches for children and adolescents grouped by age and skill level (at least 40% girls and young women), to develop skills, fitness and teamwork
  • Four community sports events hosted during the 18-month funding period, including friendly matches, cultural dance performances and traditional competitions to encourage broad community participation, foster social interaction and provide a platform for showcasing local talent
  • Simple logs and feedback forms to track attendance at training sessions and events, collect participant feedback, evaluate the programme and make adjustments where necessary to ensure the activities align with the project goals and community 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

We live together, learn and play

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Spain, Madrid
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €197,113
Foundation funding €20,000
Project identifier 2024000241
Partners Asociación Alacrán 1997
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Children and adolescents are increasingly vulnerable to anxiety, stress and isolation, which all have detrimental effects on their mental and physical health. Common symptoms include unhealthy eating, sleep and smartphone habits and a higher risk of abuse of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Project goals

  • Support the personal and social development of vulnerable children and adolescents through the acquisition of life skills and values
  • Create a protective and caring space for children and adolescents in a community environment where their rights are sure to be respected
  • Help the children and adolescents take a leading role in replicating the project and activities in their communities

Project content

Convivimos, Aprendemos y Jugamos is designed to lessen the vulnerability of children and adolescents in Madrid, promoting their personal and social development in a safe and caring space. Through football and other socio-educational activities, it promotes the acquisition of life skills and values and fosters improvements in coexistence within the surrounding community.

Partners

A Ball for All AFRICA

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Greece, Thessaloniki
Start date 02/01/2025
End date 03/31/2026
Cost of the project €100,000
Foundation funding €95,000
Project identifier 2024000311
Partners Orama Neon Youthorama
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Youthorama was founded in Greece in 2003 as a meeting place for young people aged 13 to 30. Elias Mastoras, founder of Youthorama and International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) blind football chairman, created the world’s first mini football for blind children. It is available for donation only, not for sale. Youthorama believes that every blind or visually impaired child should have access to quality education and the right to play. With A Ball for All, the organisation set out to distribute these special balls to schools in all corners of the world, accompanied by an education programme approved by the Hellenic ministry of education.

Project goals

Overall goal

A Ball for All AFRICA aims to establish a network of schools in Africa and Greece that promote inclusive football values in support of SDG 10: Reduced inequalities.

Specific targets

  • A Ball for All education programme implemented in 50 inclusive schools and sports clubs in Africa and Greece
  • 1,000 pupils with and without visual impairments involved (mixed classes) in Africa and Greece
  • Feedback questionnaires completed by all 1,000 participants for quality control and research purposes
  • 50 sports teachers and volunteers using the online tools
  • 10,000 participants in featuring a mixed delegation at the open fan festival at the Club World Cup
  • 500 mini footballs donated in Greece and in areas of Africa where the UEFA foundation is not yet active

 

Project content

  • 50 football workshops in mainstream primary schools and inclusive sports clubs, focusing on personal development, empathy and inclusion
  • Donation of educational package featuring special mini footballs in Africa and to all African clubs involved in the Club World Cup
  • Educational experiential event at the Club World Cup
  • First-ever quality research measuring the change in inclusion achieved by the programme

Partners

Football for inclusion and equity for every child

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Armenia, Dilijan, Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberyan, Tavush province
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €133,900
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2024000377
Partners Bridge of Hope
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment

Context

In Armenia’s Tavush province, in the northeast of the country, disabled children are excluded from sport, particularly from physical education at school and team sports like football, denying them opportunities for physical development, social interaction and confidence building. Football is often perceived as unsuitable for disabled children and many schools lack the infrastructure and trained educators needed to organise inclusive sports activities.

Girls face particular challenges. Societal norms and stereotypes discourage their participation in traditionally male-dominated sports such as football, and mixed-gender teams are rarely encouraged as a result of deeply rooted cultural prejudices.

These systemic barriers are compounded by a lack of awareness and advocacy about the transformative potential of inclusive sport, at individual, community and policy levels.

Project goals

Main goal

Foster a culture of equality and inclusion in Tavush province using football to ensure that every child – regardless of ability, gender or circumstance – can participate and thrive

Specific objectives

  • Upskill physical education teachers and equip them to effectively support and coach children of diverse abilities and backgrounds
  • Consolidate and expand inclusive football opportunities in 32 rural communities by strengthening existing teams, establishing new ones and making sports facilities more accessible to ensure equal opportunities for disabled and non-disabled children
  • Bring about systemic change by advocating for inclusive sports policies and legislation, engaging key stakeholders, media outlets and government bodies to promote a supportive legal framework and raise public awareness of inclusive football’s transformative impact

Project content

  • Teacher training: Weekly training sessions from January to May and September to November to equip educators with the skills to facilitate inclusive and safe physical education classes
  • Individual education plans: Collaboration with teachers to integrate inclusive practices into children’s individual education plans, ensuring tailored physical activities for all students
  • Infrastructure improvements: From January to March, 16 school football fields will be equipped to meet accessibility standards and provide a safe environment for inclusive sport
  • Football training sessions: Starting in April, fortnightly training sessions for 480 children will focus on fundamental skills, teamwork and physical fitness
  • Regional and provincial tournaments: Inclusive tournaments in April/May and October/November promoting teamwork and social inclusion
  • Advocacy: Workshops and meetings with policymakers from March to November to support legislative reforms for inclusive sport
  • Social media campaigns: Monthly campaigns bringing positive impact stories and project achievements to a wider audience and promoting inclusive values

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

Life Goals – Future Skills through Football

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Austria
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2026
Cost of the project €1,104,000
Foundation funding €108,000
Project identifier 2024000299
Partners Breaking Grounds - Social Change through Sport
Categories Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Every fifth child in Austria is at risk of poverty and exclusion. They are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to developing the psychosocial skills needed to face a dynamic future full of uncertainties. The consequences are negative effects on mental and physical well-being, lack of social participation and belonging, and a lack of preparation for the challenges of a changing world.

Project goals

Overall goals

  • Participants learn to believe in themselves, no matter what others think. They recognise and use their feelings and persevere when things get difficult. They courageously pursue their goals and know that they can make a difference.
  • Participants develop stronger personalities and better life prospects. Their socio-economic situation improves, promoting long-term and equal participation in society.

Specific targets

  • 2,000 pupils accompanied throughout Austria in 2024: 90% see improvements in their self-confidence, 85% achieve greater self-efficacy and 85% see improvements in skills such as perseverance, frustration tolerance and willingness to learn
  • 50 schools accompanied using the Life Goals method in 2024
  • 500 teachers/multiplicators trained to use the Life Goals method, which 120 teachers then use on a regular basis

Project content

Life Goals is an extensively tried and tested approach to teach future skills through football. In specially developed sports units, situations are simulated that require and train specific competences. After each unit, a guide is used to reflect on what was experienced on the pitch and to transfer what was learned to the children's everyday lives.

Since 2021, more than 2,700 children have demonstrably increased their self-efficacy with the Life Goals method.

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

Preserving children’s well-being in displacement camps in Yemen through play and sport

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Yemen
Start date 11/02/2023
End date 10/31/2024
Cost of the project €96,840
Foundation funding €50,000
Project identifier 20230339
Partners Medair
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

After nine years of conflict, more than 60% of its population depends on vital humanitarian aid. People are forced to flee, sometimes far from friends and family. As many as 4.4 million people, including 1.8 million children, live in displacement camps all over the country. Life in these camps is marked by extreme distress and precariousness, which has a negative impact on well-being and mental health, especially of children who are the most vulnerable.

Project goals

Improving and preserving the well-being and mental health of children living in two displacement camps, through sport and play activities.

Project content

  • Improving playing areas for children aged 0 to 6. We run sessions focused on mother-child interactions through activities, and develop positive parenting and stress management to provide caregivers with the tools and knowledge to stimulate early child development.
  • Establishing and running sports and recreational activities for children aged 7 to 13 to promote psychosocial well-being, a sense of security, and social cohesion.
  • Handing the management of the places and activities over to trained community leaders and facilitators to enable play areas to continue after the project ends.

Partners

Campo do Sancho

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Brazil, Recife, Pernambuco
Start date 04/01/2024
End date 08/31/2025
Cost of the project €114,575
Foundation funding €80,000
Project identifier 20230618
Partners love.fútbol
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In Brazil, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE, 2020), 47% of the public schools have no sports infrastructure and 78% (2019) of the children and 84% of teenagers do less exercise than what is recommended by WHO.

Project goals

The project will take place in Sancho, a community that represents the reality of the lack of play spaces and quality education in northeastern Brazil.

  • Use love.fútbol's award-winning methodology and 16 years of experience developing community-driven sports spaces to create a football facility in an underserved community
  • Engage the local community and enable it to build and take ownership of this space as a platform dedicated to sports, and education
  • Deliver bi-weekly ‘sports for education’ sessions to 60 children
  • Partner with the city hall and the local organisation Cores do Amanhã to keep the space safe and provide a daily schedule

Project content

love.fútbol will promote a cross-sector partnership between Recife city hall, local grassroots non-profit organisation Cores do Amanhã, and a broader range of community leaders, groups, businesses, and organisations to plan, refurbish and reactivate a historic football pitch that will serve as a sustainable platform for sports and educational sessions, a point of integration between various sectors of the community, and a reference for municipal, state and regional public policy. The ‘Campo do Sancho’ will be more than a place to play, but a local hub for education, social coexistence and peace.

Partner

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

Play for equality

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Ukraine
Start date 01/15/2023
End date 12/31/2024
Cost of the project €114,000
Foundation funding €80,000
Project identifier 20231123
Partners Klitschko Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

In many places around the world, adolescent girls show less interest in sport and physical activity than boys. Surveys in 142 countries have found that girls are generally less active than boys.

In Ukraine, the gender balance in sport and physical activities mirrors this global trend. A 2019 study found that, on average, women and girls represented only 25% of those who took part in sport. This inequality is largely attributed to the numerous stereotypes faced by girls who wish to play sport.

The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing war, which has significantly impacted children's psychological well-being, leading to a decline in motivation for both school and sport. Since the start of the war, data indicates that 75% of Ukrainian parents have observed symptoms of psychological trauma in their children. These symptoms include abrupt, unprovoked mood swings, ranging from extremely positive to extremely negative, and vice versa.

To get more women to lead active lifestyles, it is essential to communicate the value of sport to young girls and dismantle stereotypes surrounding women in sport.

Project goals

  • To challenge stereotypes about girls who play sports not typically associated with women
  • To encourage girls to play sport and lead an active lifestyle
  • To train physical education teachers to adopt gender-sensitive approaches in schools
  • To promote positive change in society through sport
  • To provide schools with sports equipment to foster a safe and nurturing environment for children

Project content

  • A 21-day online training programme for physical education teachers at 150 schools around Ukraine
  • Sports equipment for those 150 schools
  • 150 tournaments in the schools of the participating teachers
  • A five-day sports camp for 100 girls aged 13 to 16

Partner

Diepsloot Safe-Hub Empower Play programme

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location South-Africa, Johannesburg
Start date 02/12/2024
End date 12/31/2024
Cost of the project €97,024
Foundation funding €74,970
Project identifier 20231018
Partners Amandla KuLutsha
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development

Context

Diepsloot, situated in the northern part of Johannesburg, South Africa, is a densely populated area facing various socio-economic challenges: high levels of unemployment, limited educational opportunities and insufficient resources for youth development. Additionally, widespread drug abuse has emerged as a critical concern, significantly impacting the well-being and prospects particularly of the younger residents.

Project goals

  • Establish an environment within the EduFootball programme, in which participants feel secure and supported, encouraging open dialogues and creating a non-judgmental space for sharing concerns and experiences
  • Cultivate positive relationships between coaches, mentors and participants by providing role models and support structures
  • Educate participants about the dangers of drug abuse through regular workshops and expert-led sessions
  • Address the unemployment crisis by running the Playmakers programme, offering accredited learnerships and practical work experience

Project content

The Empower Play programme is designed to address the specific challenges faced by the Diepsloot community:

  • Safe and supportive environment: The project aims to create a safe and supportive space within EduFootball, providing participants with a refuge from daily challenges. Open dialogues and a non-judgmental atmosphere foster trust and encourage participants to share their concerns.
  • Positive role models: The project seeks to counter the lack of positive role models in Diepsloot by showcasing success stories and organising motivational sessions. Inspirational figures from similar backgrounds demonstrate the transformative power of education and sport.
  • Substance abuse education: The drug awareness component directly addresses the substance abuse epidemic in Diepsloot. Workshops and expert-led sessions provide participants with vital knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse, and offer resources for those seeking assistance.
  • Employability enhancement: In response to the high unemployment rates, the EduFootball programme goes beyond sport by incorporating the Playmakers programme. This initiative provides accredited skills programmes and practical work experience, empowering unemployed post-high school youth with skills to enhance their employability.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: The project acknowledges the need for ongoing assessment to track participants' progress in various aspects, such as emotional well-being, education and employability. Continuous feedback ensures that the programme responds to the evolving needs of the Diepsloot community.

In essence, the Empower Play Programme is not only a response to the immediate challenges faced by Diepsloot, but also a proactive effort to empower the community's youth, break the cycle of unemployment and substance abuse, and pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.

The programme includes:

  • Life-skills training session
  • Fair play football match days
  • Holiday programmes
  • Night league tournaments
  • Playmakers workplace skills training

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

Fun Football in Nigeria

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Anambra, Kaduna, Benue and Kano (Nigeria)
Start date 01/01/2024
End date 03/31/2025
Cost of the project €200,000
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 20230056
Partners Cross Cultures Project Association
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Nigeria has a population of nearly 224 million, of which 63% are 24 years old or younger. Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has faced almost constant conflict between the two major religions, between different ethnic groups and between pastoralists and farmers. This fighting has resulted in millions of deaths and unquantifiable social and material damage. In 2023, approximately 9.3 million people required emergency humanitarian assistance and nearly 3 million remained internally displaced. Women and children are particularly vulnerable: UNICEF estimates that six out of ten children in Nigeria experience some form of violence daily and nearly 20 million do not attend school, which puts them at an increased risk of violence, crime, child labour, poverty and recruitment by militias. In the northern regions, only 44% of girls receive primary education, and 48% marry before the age of 15. Moreover, unemployment among Nigerians aged 15–24 reached almost 53.4% in 2021. Nigeria is also highly susceptible to climate-change-related disasters such as floods and droughts, which exacerbate the humanitarian crises, conflict and poverty.

Project goals

Overall objective:

To promote peaceful coexistence, youth empowerment and child protection in Nigeria.

Specific goals:

  • To empower unemployed individuals with the skills and networks to promote peaceful coexistence, cooperation and social cohesion through Fun Football activities, while also enhancing their own resilience and opportunities to earn a living in grassroots sport or physical education.
  • To enhance child protection in conflict-sensitive areas with a focus on the most vulnerable, notably unschooled and internally displaced children.
  • To incorporate Fun Football into the curricula of primary schools in vulnerable communities as a means of promoting children's wellbeing and development and reducing the number of drop-outs.

Project content

Fun Football unites people across social divisions by helping them to find common ground around their passion for football and their hopes for their children's development and future. It also fosters children's social and psychological development by providing them with safe spaces to play, positive role models, new friendships, life skills and psychosocial support. Sport has been shown to play an effective role in keeping children in school since it promotes their social skills, mental well-being and self-confidence, all of which contribute to increased motivation and performance. Cross Cultures' Fun Football programme consists of three main activities:

  • Training for young leaders and coaches

Cross Cultures trains unemployed former footballers and women who are not in employment, education or training in action learning methods and the child-centred Fun Football philosophy so that they can take control of their lives and become more involved in their communities as volunteer leaders and coaches.

  • Open Fun Football Schools, Fun Festivals and other Fun Football activities

Children are given the opportunity to experience Fun Football with children from different backgrounds in a safe and peaceful environment characterised by friendship, non-violence, child protection and gender equality. The activities are led by the volunteer coaches and leaders.

  • Cross-sectoral cooperation:

The project works with 20 primary schools committed to introducing the concept of Fun Football. Cross Cultures aims to train 80 physical education teachers and coaches who will, in turn, train 5,000 participating students.

Partner