Miracoli Football Club

Location and general information

Ongoing
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

Growing up with dignity

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Madagascar
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 06/30/2023
Cost of the project €189,354
Foundation funding €75,742
Project identifier 210951
Partners Grandir Dignement
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

In Madagascar, the detention conditions of the approximately 950 incarcerated children are extremely precarious and detrimental to their proper development. Their basic needs (food, health and hygiene) are not even minimally met. Children are regularly victims of serious violence from prison officers, who are often unaware that children have rights. Finally, there is virtually no preparation for their socio-educational reintegration.

Project content

The project will run for 18 months and support 400 children (girls and boys) in six jails and 100 children living in two Grandir Dignement post-incarceration centres or supported by social workers. The aim is to provide educational, sports, literacy and occupational training activities, to improve their detention conditions and socio-educational integration so that they can live independent lives when they are released. The project involves daily contact with activity leaders, educators and trainers, six days a week both inside and outside prisons.

Objectives

  • Improve the detention conditions and socio-professional integration of incarcerated children.
  • Provide 400 incarcerated girls and boys with sports/educational activities and occupational trainingHelp
  • 100 children or teenagers to reintegrate into society after their release
  • Educate families and prison officers about children's rights, educational topics and gender issues
  • Raise awareness among the general public to combat stigmatisation

Project activities

Objective 1

  • Educational activities: (i) social and educational support (individual interviews for newcomers, individual information sheets, monthly individual interviews and weekly educational schedules), (ii) home and family visits to involve the families in the process and (iii) life project’ building and preparation for social reintegration.
  • Sport and cultural activities to improve well-being : (i) artistic and cultural activities and (ii) sports activities.
  • Occupational training and literacy relevant to the life project: (i) literacy activities and (ii) occupational training.

Objective 2

  • Educational activities : (i) educational support, (ii) home and family visits and (iii) life project building and preparation for social integration.
  • Sport and cultural activities: (i) artistic and cultural activities, (ii) sports activities and (iii) sports tournaments with other organisations.

Objective 3

  • Raise family awareness of educational and social issues : (i) identify topics for family workshops and (ii) workshops.
  • Raise awareness of educational and social issues among prison staff and social workers: identify topics for workshops and (ii) workshops.

Objective 4

  • Establish dialogue with the communities and local authorities to combat stigmatisation: (i) meetings with judiciary and ministry of justice officers and (ii) meetings with local organisations, local authorities and community leaders.
  • Raise awareness among the population to combat stigmatisation: (i) run an awareness communication campaign and (ii) distribute an awareness media release.

Expected results

Objective 1

  • 400 incarcerated children given support
  • Increase activities in prison: (i) 1 session of artistic and cultural activities per week/prison and (ii) 2 sessions of sport, literacy activities and occupational training per week/prison
  • 80% of families visited

Objective 2

  • 100 children receive support after their release
  • 50 children involved in tournaments with other organisations
  • 80% of families visited

Objective 3

  • 36 workshops with families: quarterly in six jails
  • 36 workshops with prison staff: quarterly in six jails
  • 6 topics for workshops with families and prison staff

Objective 4

  • 18 meetings with judiciary and ministry of justice officers: half-yearly in six localities
  • 18 meetings with local organisations, local authorities and community leaders: half-yearly in six localities
  • 6 radio awareness campaigns broadcast three times each in two localities
  • 12 awareness press releases distributed three times each in four localities

Partner

Scoring Girls

Location and general information

Terminé
Location Germany and Iraq
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €275,000
Foundation funding €136,000
Project identifier 20210550
Partners Háwar Help
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Nowadays, more people have been displaced from their homes than at any time since World War II. In Germany, roughly 1.4 million people live as refugees. In post-conflict Iraq, about 1.2 million people live as internally displaced persons (IDP).

In Iraq, the Scoring Girls live in an IDP camp outside of Dohuk, home to 15,000 people. Most belong to the Yazidi minority group from the Ninawa governate, a region in the north-west that was overrun and largely destroyed by ISIS in 2014, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee. Many of the project’s beneficiaries have been living in the camp for over five years.

In Germany, the Scoring Girls come from more than ten countries. Many of the girls underwent treacherous journeys to get to Europe. Despite living in Germany for over five years, many are still in refugee shelters on the outskirts of Berlin and Cologne.

Project content

The Scoring Girls projects offer girls in Germany and Iraq  the chance to identify their strengths and passions and build up enough self-confidence to realise their dreams in life, regardless of their background, socio-economic status or faith. Through team sports, school and homework help, career guidance and the involvement of strong female role models, project participants learn to treat each other with respect and believe in themselves.

 

Objectives

  • Empower refugee and IDP girls to integrate into their host societies through soft-skill development and new knowledge
  • Support the development of a strong, inclusive community by strengthening social cohesion and improving access to community services for refugees and their families
  • Promote direct engagement and mutual understanding between refugee and IDP girls and the host communities in Germany and Iraq
  • Raise awareness of the potential of sport as a tool to empower and integrate refugee girls

Project activities

Weekly empowerment programme: recruitment and relationship building

  • Weekly football-based soft-skills programme
  • Empowerment dialogues with role models

Community-building programme

  • Scoring Girls yearbook with Iraqi and German participants
  • Group excursions in the community
  • Family engagement events and trainings
  • Friendly matches

Dissemination of impact

  • Capacity-building between the Scoring Girls teams in Iraq and Germany
  • Press work and dissemination

Expected results

  • 150 girls (refugees, IDPs and from the host community) have improved soft-skills such as self-confidence, teamwork and resilience
  • Cohesive communities of girls with diverse backgrounds are created in five locations
  • 300 family members actively support the girls’ participation
  • 40 multipliers gain insights into how to use sport to promote integration in Iraq and Germany
  • 100,000 people learn about the power of sport to build cohesive communities and empower girls

Partner

Football for Unity

Location and general information

Terminé
Location Ireland, Dublin
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €60,000
Foundation funding €45,000
Project identifier 20210976
Partners Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI)
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The North East Inner City of Dublin (pop. 20,000) suffers from high levels of deprivation, poverty and disadvantage with high concentrations of:

  • Single parents: 80% in some areas
  • Unemployment: approx. 50% men and 40% women (national average: 13%)
  • Low educational attainment: 50% aged 15+ only have primary-school education (national average: 9%)
  • High levels of crime and substance abuse

This is also the area of Ireland with the highest percentage of ethnic minorities.

Project content

Based on the success of the Football for Unity tournaments run in the North East Inner City of Dublin during June and July 2021 alongside EURO 2020 with the support of the European Commission and the UEFA Foundation for Children, the project runs three months of training nights to build capacity in the community followed by a number of seven-a-side tournaments in a range of age categories. The aim is to encourage participation in football, the inclusion of third-country nationals and youth empowerment.

Objectives

  • Increase mutual understanding between children and young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, helping migrants and third country nationals to integrate into Irish society
  • Combat racism and xenophobia
  • Creating safe spaces for youngsters to play football
  • Promote the involvement of migrants in sport and volunteering
  • Youth empowerment through sport
  • Create more cohesion between young people, community groups, police and local authorities

Project activities

  • March, April and May: weekly football training sessions for boys and girls aged 12–18, including refugees, asylum-seekers, Travellers and Roma
  • Actively supporting community groups and individuals for the creation of football teams to play in the Football for Unity tournaments
  • June–July: football tournaments for boys and girls – both youth and children – in various age groups held at four artificial turf pitches
  • Support young people to encourage them to take their coaching badges

Expected results

  • 400 participants both male and female in various age groups
  • Integration of third country nationals and migrants, with approx. 150 participants
  • Participation of minimum 120 girls and young women
  • Increased participation in playing football
  • 20 young people attain their PDP1 coaching badge

Partner

Life’s a ball

Location and general information

Terminé
Location South Africa, Tshwane et Johannesburg
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €272,499
Foundation funding €41,823
Project identifier 20210212
Partners Altus Sport
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

In some areas of Tshwane (Pretoria) and Johannesburg, children live in poor socio-economic conditions with inadequate educational opportunities due to a lack of teachers, resources and classroom space. With no access to online learning, these children missed out on nearly two years of schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical education is practically absent from the school system. Sports facilities are non-existent or run-down and there are few physical education teachers and coaches.

Girls find it difficult to stand up for their rights and myths about health and reproduction hold them back from reaching their full potential.

The unemployment rate is very high. Many young people lack the self-confidence and skills to find employment, and positive role models are scarce.

Project content

The goal of the project is to utilise sport to empower children to make positive changes in their lives. The project involves training young people to run sports and life skills sessions for children. At these sessions, the children will play football, cricket, touch rugby, netball and hockey and learn about positivity, resilience, hygiene, puberty and menstruation, avoiding pregnancy, healthy relationships, bullying and peer pressure, gender-based violence and financial management.

Objectives

  • Empower unemployed young people by educating them in personal development and leadership, basic employability skills, and fitness and sports
  • Promote physical and mental activity by introducing children to various sports and brain fitness activities
  • Increase positive behaviour and reduce violence, abuse, crime and drug use
  • Instil positive values and good citizenship through Olympism and Olympic education
  • Motivate people with disabilities to be active
  • Support educational skills such as reading and writing
  • Empower girls by educating them about hygiene and reproductive health, leadership and basic financial managementPromote entrepreneurship through vegetable gardens that will teach children responsibility, financial management and leadership

Project activities

Youth sport leaders (YSLs) will attend monthly sessions to learn how to facilitate and lead sports and life skills training sessions and develop their coaching, leadership, personal development and financial management skills. Each YSL will identify suitable schools and other venues in their local area to hold sports sessions for children. They will work four days per week teaching a different group of 25–30 children each day. Each session will last two hours and consist of a warm-up, sport skills training, life skills training (through games, role play and discussion) and a cool-down.

Additional events for the children will include holiday sessions and tournaments, Olympic Day and Peace Day events, reading corners and chess sessions. Vegetable gardens where the children will plant, tend to and sell vegetables will teach them how to budget, plan, be responsible and manage their time as well as boost their self-worth.

Expected results

  • Male and female youth sport leaders aged 18–35 will have a broader skill set that will improve their employability.
  • Male and female participants aged 11–17 will have a broader sports skill set and a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.
  • Female participants aged 12–17 will have a better understanding of their rights, reproductive health issues and gender-based violence, and will be able to locate and access community resources when needed.
  • Male and female participants aged 11–17 will demonstrate leadership qualities, increased self-confidence and positivity at school, home and when playing sports and a financially savvy attitude to money.

Partner

Football for social cohesion and regional cooperation

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Monténégro
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €64,705
Foundation funding €39,605
Project identifier 20210919
Partners FK Breznica
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Social exclusion and marginalisation can be a problem for children and young people in northern Montenegro, depending on their social and economic background. This is especially true for girls, children with special needs and Roma children, many of whom lack opportunities for enriching educational and leisure activities, which in turn hinders their development. The COVID-19 pandemic, political tensions and migration crises have exacerbated these problems. Thanks to its popularity, football offers opportunities to develop social cohesion and educate through play.

Project content

FK Breznica’s goal is to use sport as platform for social inclusion, women’s empowerment and regional reconciliation. Coaches and youth leaders from Montenegro and neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia will be trained to use football as a tool to engage kids in inclusive educational and developmental activities. They will then organise inclusive in-country and cross-border activities involving Roma, migrant children and children with special needs.

Objectives

  • Educate coaches and youth leaders to use football as a tool for inclusive education and development
  • Use a ‘train the trainer’ approach to ensure the benefits are multiplied and sustainable
  • Promote gender equality and equal participation of boys and girls
  • Promote social cohesion through inclusive and integrated educational and sports activities involving
  • Roma, migrant children and young people with special needs
  • Promote regional reconciliation through joint cross-border activities

Project activities

  • Training in Football3 methodology and football for good for coaches and youth leaders
  • Monthly inclusive and integrated educational and sports activities
  • Two Football3 festivals
  • Friendship tournament in Pljevlja to celebrate International Migrants Day, involving
  • migrants, Roma and children with special needs from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia
  • Translation of Football3 manuals into Montenegrin
  • Quarterly project support and monitoring of online sessions with the Czech Association for Voluntary Activities INEX-SDA

Expected results

  • 30 football coaches and youth leaders educated and their professional skills increased
  • 150 coaches given informal training
  • Up to 5,400 youngsters involved in project activities and their social skills increased
  • More girls involved in sports activities
  • More children with disabilities and special needs involved in social activities
  • Migrant and Roma children included in activities
  • Football3 manuals published in Montenegrin

Partner

Football for All in Vietnam

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Vietnam
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2023
Cost of the project €81,500
Foundation funding €42,000
Project identifier 20210432
Partners Football Association of Norway/Football for All in Vietnam
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The Vietnamese cultural preference for boys in ethnic minority areas, together with the belief that only men can perform ancestral rites, has given boys and men more socio-cultural benefits than girls and women. Due to the socially constructed norms related to gender, girls are expected to grow up to be wives and mothers. As a result, girls are denied an education, forced into early marriage, and have limited opportunities to advance in other aspects of society. In many communities, the belief that ‘football is for boys; not for girls’ is basic gender discrimination that restricts, excludes, and denies girls’ rights.

Project content

FFAV utilises a football programme with life skills education as a focal point to change community perceptions of gender roles. It offers equal opportunities for boys and girls on the football pitch and in a life skills education programme.

Objectives

Raise awareness of equal rights and foster gender rights practices in ethnic minority groups to increase the equal participation of women and girls in football, empower them and equip them with leadership skills.

Project activities

  • Set up football clubs
  • Organise football training sessions for PE teachers – priority given to female teachers
  • Organise life skills training sessions for female teachers who will then educate girls in life skills
  • Develop a FFAV life skills toolkit and social campaign messages with events to promote equal rights in the community
  • Organise regular activities at clubs

Expected results

  • 19 football clubs with the participation of 1,520 girls and 1,520 boys
  • 1,520 girls equipped with knowledge about gender rights and life skills
  • 114 teachers trained as football coaches/referees
  • 58 female teachers trained as life skills facilitators/master trainers
  • 3,800 community members exposed to social campaign on gender rights/equality through club activities
  • 19,120 children experience football and life skills through 38 Fun Football Festivals and 2,736 football sessions
  • Gender equality education materials distributed

Partner

All In: Girls Play

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 01/01/2023
Cost of the project €1,150,000
Foundation funding €200,000
Project identifier 20210417
Partners Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The OFC is committed to raising the profile of women’s football, breaking down the barriers to access and creating greater opportunities for participation. Sport for development is a critical component of the OFC’s approach to helping to build stronger Pacific Island communities.

Violence against women and girls in the Pacific is among the highest in the world. Up to 80% of Pacific women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and 75% adolescent boys think that it is acceptable to beat a wife. Girls face discrimination, exclusion and inequalities, and these are exacerbated by COVID-19. Sport plays a critical role in changing perceptions and relations between boys and girls, providing a supportive and safe environment.

Project content

This project drives gender equality in and through football by facilitating interaction between boys and girls, challenging perceptions of gender stereotypes and norms of violence as well as providing the tools to develop female leaders in communities across the Pacific region. Gender equality and safeguarding strategies and training will support the sustainable and safe delivery of football for all and ensuring a lasting legacy hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup in the region.

Objectives

  • Change perceptions among boys, girls, women and men involved in football to promote greater lifelong inclusion and access to football
  • Empower youth to be leaders and advocates for broader social change
  • Train youth and coaches on gender-based violence and ensure access to services
  • Ensure strategies, systems and training are available to combat discrimination and reduce risks of harm

Project activities

  • Boys’ and girls’ gender integration programmes to teach vital skills and attitudes relating to gender equality and acceptance
  • Girls’ football programme teaching life skills, leadership and how to respond to violence and abuse
  • Development of gender equality training and capacity building for coaches in 13 countries
  • Safeguarding training for all instructors across the Pacific
  • Long-term gender inclusion and safeguarding action plans developed in 13 countries

Expected results

  • 7,000 girls (13–18) participating in football with messages of empowerment and responding to gender-based violence across the Pacific
  • 30,000 boys and girls (6–12) participating in a gender-equality promotion programme
  • 800+ coaches with enhanced knowledge and attitudes toward girls’ participation in football across the Pacific region
  • 800+ coaches trained in effective child safeguarding
  • Enhanced safeguarding awareness, with a regional campaign and 176 festivals promoting safe sport

Partner

Learn&Play – Equal educational and sports opportunities for all children!

Location and general information

Terminé
Location Montenegro
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 05/31/2022
Cost of the project €78,180
Foundation funding €59,180
Project identifier 20210481
Partners NGO Parents
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

Although they are enrolled in school, vulnerable children often do not attend regularly, and often drop out at an early age due to difficulties fulfilling basic needs (food, shelter).

  • Only 7 % of them continue to high school (source: UNICEF). After primary school, girls often get married (aged 14–15) and boys start to work on the street collecting raw materials.
  • Most are victims of discrimination, rejected by their peers and socially very isolated.
  • Alcohol, deviant behaviour, and violence are often present in their lives.
  • Their parents are often unable to support them, so the youngsters do not acquire basic knowledge and have very low school achievement, with only basic reading and writing.
  • Roma minority children have additional problems as they do not speak Montenegrin well, which is a further barrier to social inclusion.
  • None of them have ever had an opportunity to do any sport and are additionally deprived of opportunities to improve their health or have social interactions with their peers.

Project content

The Learn&Play project will help these 1,400 children, through sport and education, to socialise and become involved in peer activities to improve their social skills, which are neglected because of extreme poverty.

Equal educational and sports opportunities for all children! The project will improve opportunities for children aged 6–12 who live in poverty in suburban and rural areas of Podgorica, by supporting their education and social inclusion through sport. The project consists of football training, literacy classes, and a final event, the Learn&Play Cup. The project will help children turn their lives around by finishing school and gaining social skills.

Objectives

Support education and social inclusion of 1,200 children who live in extreme poverty.

Specific objectives

  1. Provide access to sport – free football training for 1,200 children who live in extreme poverty.
  2. Provide free literacy lessons for 400 children.
  3. Increase the children’s self-esteem, motivation, and social skills.
  4. Promote equal opportunities for all children among the main stakeholders.

Project activities

Organisation of free football training in 10 schools

Select ten elementary schools in Podgorica, with a total of 1,200 pupils, in coordination with the ministry for education, culture, science and sport.

Selected schools will be in areas with the greatest poverty.

2 near to an informal settlement with mostly Roma children

5 in suburban areas

3 in rural areas

Football training, twice a week for 120 children per school in two groups:

Years 1–3 (6 to 8)

Years 4–6 (9 to 12)

Each group will consist of two teams of 30 children, both boys and girls, with a minimum of 30% of girls, and 5% of children with disabilities. Each team will be trained by one coach (licensed physical education teacher from the school or a licensed coach) and one volunteer.

Training programme

This activity will involve 20 physical education teachers or licensed coaches and 20 volunteers. The training will focus specifically on working with children who live in poverty and offer guidance on its mission and values: equality, social inclusion, tolerance, teamwork, stressing the importance of education.

Providing sports equipment:

  • T-shirts will be provided for all 1,200 children (branded with project logo and UEFA logo)
  • Donated second-hand sneakers will be provided for the most vulnerable children
  • Football jerseys and sneakers with the name of their school will be provided for 400 children taking part in the tournament

Visits by famous football players

To motivate the children and promote the project, Montenegrin football players will visit each school and play football with the children.

 Free literacy classes

  1. a) In coordination with the schools, a group of children with literacy difficulties will be chosen for support.
  • 400 children will be provided with free literacy classes (40 children per school): 50% will be girls, 40% Roma children, 5% children with disabilities.
  • Children will be divided into two groups, regardless of age or grade: children with no knowledge of reading (including Roma children who do not speak Montenegrin) and children with reading skills below the normal level for their age.
  • 90-minute classes will be held in schools once a week.
  1. b) Recruiting and training coordinator and volunteers who will help children to learn
  • This activity will involve ten learning supervisors (Montenegrin language teachers) and 40 volunteers. The supervisors will develop learning plans and supervise the volunteers.
  • A training programme will be organised for all of them, focusing on the specific approach in working with children who live in poverty and guidance for the project’s mission and values: equality, social inclusion, tolerance, teamwork, and stressing the importance of education.

Learn&Play Cup – one-day football tournament

  • The Learn&Play Cup will be the first tournament of its kind in Montenegro, promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities and the importance of education and sport for all children.
  • 400 children (4 teams from each selected school) will take part in the tournament.
  • A detailed schedule of football matches will be drawn up in cooperation with the Football Association of Montenegro.
  • The tournament will be organised in the country’s largest stadium, belonging to FC Budućnost, and will resemble regular matches in every way – anthem, lights, security, judges, medals, and a trophy.
  • Football jersey and sneakers will be provided for all children taking part.
  • Transport and snacks will be provided for all children taking part.
  • After the tournament final, a press conference will be held to highlight the project’s achievements and results.

Expected results

  • 840 will children take part in sport for the first time in their lives (a total of 1,200 children given training).
  • 400 children learn to read and write.
  • 1,200 children will improve football skills, self-esteem, self-awareness, motivation, social skills.
  • Increased awareness of social isolation and education challenges of children living in poverty and importance of creating equal opportunities for all.

Partner

YES!: Youth Empowerment through Sport

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Cameroon
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 09/30/2022
Cost of the project €48,954
Foundation funding €48,954
Project identifier 20210730
Partners Street Child
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

The ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s northwestern and southwestern regions has affected over 900,000 children, many of whom have been exposed to violence as well as the risk of family separation, exploitation, and abuse. Approximately 85% of schools have closed. Most of the children concerned have missed out on several years of schooling, and many have been separated from their parents and communities after fleeing fighting. To overcome the challenges they face, children need safe spaces to play, recover from trauma and regain psychosocial stability. This project will use sport to provide these safe spaces, and as an entry point for the children to heal, develop life skills and improve their resilience and well-being.

Project content

The aim of this project is to provide psychosocial support for 4,990 children through sport, to improve their psychosocial well-being and resilience.

Both in-school and out-of-school children will be enrolled in the project and participate in weekly sports and games along with psychosocial support (PSS), counselling and life skills development. The project seeks to be inclusive, so the sports activities and PSS/life skills sessions have been tailored to different ages, genders and disabilities.

Teachers, community coaches and youth leaders will be trained to lead the sports and PSS sessions, and refer any children who are in need of specialised child protection or therapy services. Each school and community will be provided with a package of sports equipment, such as footballs, bibs and cones. By supporting schools and community centres, and training teachers and community leaders to lead the sessions, we expect the sports and PSS sessions to continue at community level even after the UEFA project ends.

Objectives

  • Provide PSS and life skills through sports to school children affected by conflict and displacement.
  • Provide PSS and life skills through sport to out-of-school teenagers affected by conflict and displacement.
  • Build the capacity of teachers and community stakeholders to promote children’s rights and strengthen protection mechanisms in their communities.
  • Reduce protection risks and strengthen menstrual hygiene management for out-of-school teenage girls.

Project activities

  • Training community-based coaches, teachers and youth leaders in coaching skills, PSS, child protection and safeguarding

Ten community-based coaches, 16 teachers and 6 youth leaders will be trained over the course of two days to lead the sports and PSS sessions, as well as educated on key child protection and child safeguarding issues.

  • Provision of sports and play equipment for schools and communities

The schools/community centres will be provided with sports and play equipment to be used during the weekly sessions. This will include footballs, handballs, plastic balls, skipping ropes, bibs and whistles – all of which will be used in a variety of international and local games and sports activities.

  • Provision of weekly sports and PSS sessions for 4,240 in-school children and 750 out-of-school children

Every week, the coaches will lead sports and PSS sessions for the children, supported by the trained teachers or youth leaders. Alongside games and sports activities, the coaches will provide PSS and life-skills sessions (on topics such as health, general hygiene, menstrual hygiene, children’s rights, self-esteem, teamwork and leadership) to help the youngsters overcome trauma and build resilience. The sessions will be held at selected schools (integrated into the school day) and at community centres. A total of 4,990 children will take part, at least 50% of whom will be girls. It is expected that 50% of the children participating will be internally displaced persons as a result of the current crisis, and 25% will be children separated from their parents through displacement.

  • Distribution of dignity kits for protection and menstrual hygiene management to out-of-school teenage girls

In recognition of the particular vulnerability of teenage girls, dedicated sessions will build their knowledge of their rights and protection mechanisms available. These sessions will include information on menstrual hygiene management and sexual and reproductive health. Out-of-school teenage girls will be provided with dignity kits to allow them to maintain hygiene and respect and also to offer protection.

Expected results

  • Ten community coaches, 16 teachers and six youth leaders (50% female) have improved knowledge of coaching skills, PSS skills, child protection and safeguarding.
  • Eight schools and three community centres are provided with a package of sports and play equipment.
  • 4,990 children (at least 50% girls) participate in weekly sports and PSS sessions.
  • 375 out-of-school teenage girls are provided with dignity kits and have improved knowledge of their rights, health and hygiene.

Partner

Extension of the Unis Vers le Sport school in Mali

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Sala, Mali
Start date 03/01/2022
End date 03/31/2022
Cost of the project €56,800
Foundation funding €36,000
Project identifier 20210653
Partners Unis Vers le Sport
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

For many years, Mali has been shaken by economic and political instability that has left most of its population out of work and struggling to survive. Despite these difficult circumstances, the Unis Vers le Sport school has been able to function normally since it was founded with UNESCO’s support in Sala, 30km from Bamako, in 2008.

Most of the region’s inhabitants make their living from agriculture or diving for sand from the bed of the river Niger. As many families cannot afford to send their children to school, they often have to work in the fields or the river.

Project content

This year, the school aims to take in more children to give them an eduction and better future prospects. The project will build a new classroom, with space for 50 pupils, and recruit two extra primary-level teachers.

Objectives

  • Increase the school’s capacity.
  • Improve the conditions and the quality of the education.

Project activities

The Unis Vers le Sport school is accredited by the Mali ministry of education and applies the national curriculum.

The school is mixed and every day after classes, the pupils do a variety of sporting activities, under the supervision of the teachers, to improve their physical and mental well-being and help them to thrive.

Once they have finished school, the children can go on to learn a trade in the partner training centre in Bamako.

Expected results

  • 50 more girls and boys in school.
  • 2 extra teachers.
  • Better teaching conditions.

Partner

Mpira Fursa – primary school girls’ football

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Tanzanie
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €55,003
Foundation funding €55,003
Project identifier 2021968
Partners Karibu Tanzania Organization (KTO)
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

There are many talented Tanzanian girls who could become great football players, coaches, referees, and sports administrators. However, only a few of them get a chance to participate in football due to a lack of organisation and infrastructure to encourage them, along with cultural barriers and taboos that hold them back. Tanzanian society suffers from large gender disparities that restrict the accessibility of basic services for girls and women. In most cases, girls who play football are seen differently, and parents prevent their children from taking part.

The country has one of the highest rates of child marriage and has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates (MoEST, 2008; BEST, 2010). The Mpira Fursa programme provides a chance for girls to be trained and engaged in football, and ultimately keeping them in school.

 

Project content

Football has the potential to empower girls and provides opportunities for them to lead a healthier lifestyle. This programme promotes and develops women’s and girls’ football for gender equality and socio-economic empowerment, increases girls’ self-esteem and self-confidence, and creates quality, skilled female footballers from the grassroots level. Mpira Fursa contributes to our goal for all girls to finish school without dropping out, defying the misconception that they are weak or incapable.

Through women’s football, KTO leverages partnerships and engagement with a variety of audiences to teach everyone that gender-based violence and sextortion have no place on or off the field or indeed anywhere in our lives.

The Mpira Fursa programme has introduced football classes at 43 FDCs, comprising technical development, coach and referee training, sports management and life skills. As an extracurricular activity, it provides young women with the opportunity to continue with their studies while taking part in the football programme. A total of 43 women coaches have qualified with the African Football Confederation (CAF) D certificate, while 35 of them also trained as match commissioners. This makes a group of trainers and football coaches readily available for the primary school girls’ programme. The programme will be coordinated by the trained staff employed at the 43 FDCs in collaboration with the physical education teachers. The selected primary schools and teams will also be used as field experience for the FDCs’ female participants.

The programme will increase the proportion of girls playing football at various levels and provide a structure to encourage primary school girls to take part in football activities.

Objectives

  • Develop and empower girls to become skilled, confident football players with a good knowledge of football and economic opportunities.
  • Promote gender awareness and girls’ engagement.
  • Strengthen girls’ self-esteem, self-confidence and knowledge of their rights
  • Reduce school dropouts in primary schools.

Project activities

  • Conduct stakeholder familiarisation and programme review meetings.
  • Support Mpira Fursa coordinators and physical education teachers to promote gender awareness, sexual reproductive health and rights through leadership training.
  • Support the primary schools involved in the programme, with required football training and learning materials including football equipment (jerseys, footballs, cones, etc.)
  • Hold football games and tournaments for primary school girls’ teams
  • Boost capacity for the coordinating FDCs through coach training and football equipment.
  • Develop and print information, education and communication materials.
  • Engage the media to raise community awareness and programme visibility.

Expected results

  • 4,300 primary school girls play football in organised teams.
  • 172 primary school girls’ football teams set up.
  • 86 primary schools in 23 regions take part in the Mpira Fursa programme.
  • 43 coordinators and 86 PE teachers trained in women’s football and sexual and reproductive health.
  • Reduced number of girls dropping out of primary schools.
  • Primary school teams have all the necessary football equipment.
  • Girls in the programme demonstrate increased gender awareness, self-esteem, self-confidence and knowledge of their rights.

Partner

Urban Soccer for Dream and Hope

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Montréal, Canada
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €137,000
Foundation funding €42,000
Project identifier 20210813
Partners Rêves Passion Montréal
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Almost 70% of Montreal’s population are immigrants. Most low-income families live in the same neighbourhoods, where we focus our work on team sports activities in partnership with the local community centres. Our project promotes football not only for exercise but above all as a way to integrate, emphasising social integration for girls.

Rêves Passion Montréal helps community centres in the city to provide mixed football activities based on equality and inclusivity. If girls and women are able to realise their potential through sport, they will be able to bring about positive change in society and thrive both at home and at work.

Sports activities are just as mixed as everyday life. It is therefore essential to bring boys up to value tolerance and respect while helping girls develop sufficient self-confidence to feel at home in mixed activities.

Project content

The Urban Soccer for Dream and Hope project guides the community centres in underprivileged neighbourhoods and provides them with the tools to develop football activities for everyone, but girls in particular.

The aim is to provide an environment in which these girls and boys can thrive. Through football and tools such as the Football3 methodology, the project encourages better interaction between these vulnerable youngsters while teaching them about respect and inclusion. They learn how to come up with rules for the group, helping them to develop their own self-esteem, tolerance and leadership skills.

The project is run by Rêves Passion, a football league for adults that works on the principle that ‘everything starts and ends with football’.

Objectives

  • Use sport as a tool for social development and integration by promoting fair and equal participation to fight social and gender-related discrimination.
  • Boost girls’ self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities by integrating them into mixed sport.
  • Increase positive behaviours and attitudes among young people and improve their teamwork.

Project activities

The project focuses on the following five values:

  • Inclusion: our project supports community centres in their weekly mixed football sessions by providing a structure, a coach and a methodology based on fair play; some materials may be supplied
  • Courage: the No Girls Offside programme is a series of workshops, generally combined with other activities (Zumba, basketball, singing) to promote leadership, self-confidence and a sense of belonging
  • Integrity and creativity: at the end of the project, we hold the Urban Soccer Festival, an annual event for participants, their families and our project partners – a festive opportunity to celebrate everyone’s involvement
  • Respect: we train the monitors and young adults in our partner centres in the Football3 methodology and by sharing this knowledge we can guarantee the lifespan of the programme and long-term development of football as a whole

Expected results

  • Provide girls-only activities, or activities led by women in a suitable environment, for 50 girls by the end of 2022.
  • Help community centres provide mixed football activities for 150 children or more by the end of 2022, with at least 25% of regular female participants.
  • Enable over 150 youngsters to experience group dynamics, such as working alone and as a team, respecting the diversity of individuals and their ideas, accepting and providing constructive criticism based on mutual respect, solving conflicts peacefully and following rules.
  • Training 25 new coaches in the Football3 methodology, which will have a positive effect on each of their groups.

Partner

Timbiquí´s Gamechangers

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Colombia
Start date 02/01/2022
End date 03/31/2023
Cost of the project €64,196
Foundation funding €64,196
Project identifier 20210690
Partners Tiempo de Juego
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Timbiquí is a small village located on the Colombian Pacific coast. Historically, this region has suffered from the Colombian armed conflict, as well as exclusion and state abandonment caused by corruption and geographical isolation. Partly because of this, illegal armed groups and structures have occupied this territory, establishing a parallel economy heavily based on illegal mining and coca plantations. All of this has caused Timbiquí to be left behind in social and economic development, reducing opportunities for the local population. Immersed in this reality, children and young people from Timbiquí struggle to find positive role models and hope, tending in many cases to get involved in illegal activities as they have no other choice.

Project content

We aim to use football as a tool to raise awareness of the importance of life projects for children and teenagers, to counteract the risks they face. To achieve this, we will create football schools for 500 children, and use a multiple psychosocial approach to enhance their decision-making processes. In addition, we will hold football festivals, to celebrate the community’s capacities and talents, involve relevant stakeholders and sports personalities, and inspire children and teenagers to pursue positive life projects.

Objectives

Promote the youngsters’ sense of belonging to their region, to counteract the negative alternatives and the risks they are constantly exposed to, foster life projects that benefit their region, and keep them safe from illegal activities and gang recruitment.

 

Project activities

  • Weekly football sessions: Over the period of a year, we will hold weekly football sessions for 500 children in Timbiquí, using football3 methodology.
  • Football festivals: Every six months, we will organise football festivals and invite the whole community to take part, to raise community awareness through games. Various sports personalities will be invited to attend, to inspire children and young people to create positive life projects.
  • Local leaders training: We will train local leaders in technical, psychosocial and teaching skills, so they can replicate this knowledge among children around Timbiquí.

Expected results

  • 500 children and young people attend football schools, which promote positive sport-related life projects.
  • By the end of the project, at least 80% of participants will identify with positive role models within their communities.
  • By the end of the project, at least 70% of participants perceive they have improved their decision-making process related to their life project.
  • At least eight football festivals are held in four different rural communities.
  • At least six local leaders are involved in weekly psychosocial training.

Partner

Future Leaders of Kalebuka

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Democratic Republic of Congo, Kalebuka
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €75,000
Foundation funding €35,000
Project identifier 20210250
Partners Fondation Georges Malaika
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Personal development

Context

Prior to Malaika, the people of Kalebuka had little access to education or community programmes. The literacy rate is one of the lowest in the country and many people living there have been displaced by conflict in other parts of the country. Gender inequality causes women and girls to be deprived of school and work, leaving them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. For the people of Kalebuka to thrive, they need continued access to school, community programmes and opportunities.

Project content

The community centre provides free access to literacy, numeracy, IT, English, and health education as well as vocational training and sports programmes for adults and out-of-school youth. Our sports for social development programme engages young people in play and discussions on topics such as conflict resolution, leadership development, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and children’s rights. The combination of these programmes provides participants with the foundation to become future leaders.

Objectives

We aim to make specific changes in attitudes and behaviours of community members.

Leadership and life skills

  • Equip young people with tools to empower themselves and their communities
  • Increase gender equality
  • Help shape the future leaders of Kalebuka, DRC

Health

  • Improve participants’ physical and mental health
  • Disseminate public health and hygiene information

Improved life outcomes

  • Teach young people about children’s rights
  • Equip young people with tools to empower themselves and their communities

 

Project activities

  • Select and mentor peer coaches
  • Run sport for social development games and activities
  • Host workshops about children’s rights, gender equality, COVID-19 and conflict resolution
  • Community outreach activities about diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19 and sexually transmitted infections
  • Hold regional tournaments to raise awareness across communities
  • Classes on literacy, health, IT, numeracy, reproductive health, English and French
  • Hold focus groups and discussion groups for young people

Expected results

By providing youth with access to sport, education and health programmes we give them the tools to bring about positive change throughout their community. We expect to see a decrease in child abuse and increases in education, gender equality and improved conflict resolution. This provides young people with opportunities to empower themselves, by introducing them to their vast potential and giving them the tools to make the best use of it. They will become the leaders of their community and help it thrive.

  • Boost young people’s leadership skills through training programmes, increasing the number of peer leaders and coaches (Baseline: 12 / Target: 20).
  • Create a safe space to discuss health topics and increase the number of young people attending health-based sports sessions (Baseline: 85 / Target: 120).
  • Improve life outcomes by positively changing young people’s mentality with regard to conflict resolution, drug and alcohol use, domestic violence, etc.
  • **Increase the number of youth attending training sessions based on life outcomes (Baseline: 120 / Target: 145)

Partner

MINE/ COVID-19 Risk Education

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Cambodia
Start date 01/01/2022
End date 12/31/2022
Cost of the project €129,520
Foundation funding €129,520
Project identifier 20210613
Partners Spirit of Soccer
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development

Context

For over 30 years, Cambodia has suffered from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Children are the most vulnerable and account for over 50% of the casualties.

Survivors are left maimed and traumatised, often removed from school, depriving them of an education, then further stigmatised as a burden to both their family and the broader community.

Since the Spirit of Soccer programme started in Cambodia in 2006, the land mine casualty rate has dropped from 875 to 65 per year in 2020. In simple terms, without our intervention, these and similar tragedies would continue unchecked.

 

Project content

Our mission is to use soccer to educate children living in conflict and post-conflict regions about the dangers of landmines, ERW and COVID-19.

We educate, train and employ local coaches and teachers to use our curriculum. The easy-to-understand football-related lessons teach children how to identify and avoid specific risks and unexploded ordnance. The culturally sensitive, fun and inclusive, approach creates a safe environment that provides healthy physical activity, hope and happiness.

Objectives

  • 14,000 youngsters (60% Male/40% Female) involved in professionally delivered football activities
  • 40,000 indirect beneficiaries of education and coaching workshops, local tournaments, peer-to-peer and multimedia campaigns, kits and outreach materials (posters and notebooks)
  • 60 local coaches trained in COVID-19 and ERW risk education, youth coaching at D licence level
  • Candidates for the workshops will include 25 Khmer United Nations peacekeeping deminers at the request of the ministry of defence

Project activities

  • Running coaching clinics through local schools in mine-impacted communities for 14,000 at-risk children
  • Expansion of field educational materials for ERW accidents and COVID-19 prevention measures to indirectly reach 40,000 youngsters
  • Ongoing liaison with the national Mine Action working group
  • Organising three football tournaments involving 150 players each (60% boys, 40% girls), delivering football coaching, ERW accident and COVID-19 risk reduction education
  • Preparedness training and education materials for players
  • Door-to-door training in the event of school closures

Expected results

  • Distribute 400 footballs and 14,000 ERW notebooks through coaching clinics and tournaments
  • Reach a target of 14,000 direct and 40,000 indirect participants, within a wide demographic of coaches and leaders, local youngsters, adults, educators, ministry officials and ERW working groups

Partner