Fields of Hope

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location San Juan and Villalba. Puerto Rico
Start date 02/15/2026
End date 03/15/2027
Cost of the project €174,781
Foundation funding €75,000
Project identifier 2025002298
Partners Fundación Rimas
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Almost 60% of young people in Puerto Rico live in poverty and have limited access to structured extracurricular activities to support their physical, emotional and social development. In the Villalba juvenile detention centre, incarcerated boys are isolated, without opportunities for positive engagement, while in communities such as Las Margaritas, girls lack safe, inclusive spaces for sport. These factors contribute to social exclusion, low self-esteem and limited reintegration opportunities.

Project goals

  • Promote social inclusion and emotional well-being through sport
  • Strengthen self-confidence, discipline and teamwork skills among vulnerable young people
  • Advance gender equality by supporting girls’ participation in football
  • Provide incarcerated boys with a constructive and motivating outlet and support their long-term personal development and social reintegration

Project content

Fundación Rimas supports a girls’ football team in Las Margaritas, organising weekly training sessions, mentorship opportunities and community matches. In parallel, trained coaches deliver monthly football sessions, skills clinics and workshops at the Villalba juvenile detention centre. Mentorship and life skills activities are integrated into project activities, with a focus on leadership, emotional regulation and team cohesion. The project will conclude with a joint final and showcase event celebrating participation, progress and inclusion.

Partner

Kick for Hope

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps, Jordan
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 12/31/2026
Cost of the project €400,000
Foundation funding €150,000
Project identifier 202500713
Partners Association Football Development Programme Global (AFDPG)
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Jordan hosts a large number of refugees relative to its total population. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, approximately 445,000 registered asylum seekers and refugees were living in the country in November 2025, with Syrian nationals making up the vast majority at around 422,000.

While these figures reflect the numbered of registered refugees, the total Syrian refugee population in Jordan, including unregistered individuals, is substantially higher – some estimates place the figure in excess of 1.3 million.

Jordan has hosted large numbers of Syrian refugees in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps and in urban and peri-urban communities across the country since the start of the crisis in 2011. The protracted nature of displacement means that many Syrian refugee families have been living in Jordan for well over a decade.

Many young refugees live in overcrowded environments with limited access to safe, structured recreational and educational activities. The absence of regular, supportive activities and safe spaces for them to play, socialise and develop skills can lead to stress, boredom and behavioural challenges, which can in turn impact emotional well-being, social integration and long-term development.

Project goals

  • Build the capacity of Syrian coaches and create employment opportunities
  • Provide children and young adults with access to safe spaces to enjoy football and other sports activities
  • Promote life skills through sport
  • Create professional development and competitive opportunities for young refugees
  • Create football clubs in the camps

Project content

  • Select Syrian youth coaches and administrators
  • Deliver in-person training for coaches, coordinators and admin teams
  • Organise ongoing football, judo, table tennis and other sports activities for children and young adults
  • Organise football leagues for all age groups
  • Run Zumba classes for Syrian girls
  • Enter a team of Syrian refugees in the local U13 boys’ grassroots league
  • Enter a team in the Jordan Judo League

Partner

RePlay Project

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
Start date 11/05/2025
End date 11/05/2026
Cost of the project €59,220
Foundation funding €35,220
Project identifier 2025001225
Partners Kızlar Sahada
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Türkiye was ranked 135th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report. Only 1% of licensed football players are women, reflecting deep gender inequality in sport. Şanlıurfa, a region facing significant sociocultural and socio-economic challenges, has some of the highest rates of child marriage and school dropout, and girls in the area face significant barriers to participating in both sport and society.

Project goals

The RePlay Project organises free and accessible football activities and community events to promote fair play, build life skills, foster inclusion and empower girls and boys and is now entering its third year in Şanlıurfa.

  • Use football to strengthen social and emotional skills, helping individuals to face personal and community challenges
  • Foster belonging and collaboration by engaging families, coaches, and local stakeholders in community activities
  • Create a safe, inclusive environment that is welcoming to everyone, especially marginalised groups, ensuring free access to sport
  • Promote gender equality by empowering girls through regular training and events

Project content

  • Conduct regular football activities, including football3 sessions, technical training, and matches, to develop social and emotional skills
  • Organise five events to engage the community and raise awareness of the project
  • Consult with schools, NGOs, local governments, and clubs to ensure free, inclusive, and safe access to football
  • Deliver workshops, presentations, and games focused on gender equity

Partner

Ti Mouvman Fun-Da-Mentals (‘little movement fundamentals’)

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Canaries, Soufrière, Vieux Fort and Dennery, Saint Lucia
Start date 03/02/2026
End date 02/29/2028
Cost of the project €138,270
Foundation funding €81,172
Project identifier 2025001807
Partners Sacred Sports Foundation Inc
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Saint Lucia, like many developing small island states in the Caribbean, is experiencing a steady decline in physical activity among children. This trend is particularly evident in underserved communities, where schools experience limited resources, reduced access to trained physical education teachers, and competing academic priorities that often result in physical education being deprioritised. At the same time, children’s lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary due to screen use, a reduction in the number of safe play spaces, and fewer structured opportunities for movement.

When foundational movement skills, coordination, confidence, and positive attitudes towards physical activity are not developed early, children are more likely to disengage from sport altogether, which increases their long-term risk of obesity, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, and poor mental health. Saint Lucia already faces a high burden of lifestyle-related diseases in adults, including obesity and diabetes, underscoring the urgent need for early preventive action.

Project goals

  1. Increase access to safe, structured, and inclusive physical activity for children aged six to ten in underserved communities in Saint Lucia.
  2. Improve fundamental movement skills, agility, balance, and coordination, as well as overall physical literacy, among participating children.
  3. Encourage positive attitudes towards physical activity and lifelong active lifestyles from an early age.
  4. Support children’s mental and emotional well-being by building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and social skills through sport.
  5. Promote equal participation opportunities for girls and boys.
  6. Strengthen school and community capacity to deliver sustainable physical activity and education programmes even after the project ends.

Project content     

Ti Mouvman Fun-Da-Mentals will deliver a structured, school-based physical education programme across 16 primary schools in underserved communities.

Key activities will include:

  • Regular structured physical activity sessions that are age-appropriate, inclusive and aligned with the children’s developmental needs.
  • Fundamental movement and motor skills activities, including jumping, hopping, skipping, balancing, running, throwing, catching, kicking, dancing, obstacle courses and active games. These activities build physical literacy and confidence in movement.
  • An introduction to football through play, using small-sided games and basic skills exercises to promote teamwork, communication and enjoyment rather than competition.
  • Inclusive programming, with strategies such as mixed-gender activities, girl-friendly coaching approaches and targeted encouragement to ensure that 50% of girls participate.
  • Providing training and simple activity guides for mentors, coaches, teachers and community stakeholders, enabling schools to sustain quality physical education beyond the life of the project.
  • Community engagement activities, including parent and guardian movement days and physical activity events, to strengthen local support for active lifestyles.
  • Monitoring and simple progress tracking, including attendance records, participation levels and basic motor skills assessments, to ensure quality delivery and continuous improvement.

Together, these activities will ensure that children not only move more, but move better, and that they build confidence and experience sport as a positive and integral part of their everyday lives.

Partner

Legacy for the Future

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova and Romania
Start date 03/01/2026
End date 02/28/2027
Cost of the project €660,000
Foundation funding €180,000
Project identifier 2025001234
Partners FIA Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Sponsors - Strengthening partnerships

Context

The UEFA Foundation for Children and the adidas Foundation together designed the Legacy for the Future project to help organisations advance gender equity in and through sport in their local area. In ongoing consultation with the FIA Foundation, we agreed to expand the project to include advocating for safer journeys to school and active mobility. There will be a focus on collecting stories and evidence from partner organisations to highlight the systemic barriers women and girls face in accessing sport, getting to and from sports facilities and school and staying physically active, as well as the action required to empower them and overcome these barriers at an institutional level across Europe.

From a road safety perspective, the equivalent of around 84 football teams of children and teenagers were killed or injured in road crashes in Georgia in 2024 alone: a total of 923 children under the age of 17, almost double the EU average. Almost half of the casualties were girls. In Moldova in 2024, 447 children under the age of 17 were killed or injured on the roads – the equivalent of around 40 football teams. Most of these casualties were aged 10 to 17 and around 40% were girls. Bosnia and Herzegovina also faces significant road safety challenges, with 67 road deaths per million inhabitants, compared to an EU average of 44.6. Children are particularly vulnerable when travelling to school and recreational facilities, including football pitches and community sports centres.

Project goals

Georgia and Moldova

  • Improve road safety around parks and football clubs to reduce a significant barrier to girls participating in sport, focusing on the following themes identified as issues by clubs, civil society and local authorities:
    • Safe speed limits in areas of active travel
    • Safe and accessible infrastructure around parks and clubs
    • Visibility when travelling at night

Romania (pilot project)

  • Create a replicable, scalable and sustainable model for integrating critical thinking, debating, dreaming and world-building exercises into self-defence training for girls living and studying in underprivileged communities near Cluj and Bucharest
  • Increase personal safety in school and sport by building assertiveness, confidence and self-esteem, while reducing fear and anxiety

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Identify risks and prioritise upgrades on routes to schools and sports facilities using the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology
  • Empower young people in interactive football-based road safety workshops using the iRAP Youth Engagement App (YEA), enabling them to report hazards, share safety perceptions and co-create solutions
  • Promote gender equity by specifically addressing the needs and mobility patterns of young girls, encouraging their sustained participation in both education and sport
  • Leverage football networks to mobilise communities, engage parents and influence local decision-makers in support of safe and inclusive journeys

Project content

  • Interactive workshops combining football skills with road safety education
  • Road safety awareness training with girls’ football teams in each club
  • Intergenerational ‘mobility snapshots’ or ‘star ratings’ of schools and football grounds to identify and assess the main risks and advocate for safer mobility
  • iRAP SR4S assessments in high-risk locations identified by students
  • Support for the implementation of low-cost, high-impact safety improvements (e.g. crossings, signage, speed reduction/traffic calming measures)
  • Sessions incorporated into sports and civic education classes as well during annual extracurricular education weeks

Partner

Sports for Behaviour Change

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Newham, London, United Kingdom
Start date 01/01/2026
End date 12/31/2026
Cost of the project €53,795
Foundation funding €39,731
Project identifier 2024001521
Partners Fight for Peace International
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Newham’s young people face significant challenges, including high levels of poverty, exposure to violence and poor physical and mental health. Activity levels among children are low, childhood obesity is rising, and support services are overstretched. Statutory funding for youth organisations has stopped, while underemployment and low qualification levels among young people persist. The need for safe spaces, trusted mentors and positive opportunities has never been more urgent.

Project goals

Using sport as a catalyst for personal development and growth, the project motivates young people to improve their relationships, their self-image and perception of others and their vision for the future. Fight for Peace International will help participants to feel fitter, safer, less lonely and more confident. Coaches act as trusted mentors, and young people are encouraged to make better choices, try harder at school, set and achieve personal goals and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.

Project content

  • Fitness: inclusive boxing and martial art sessions for all abilities, including sessions for children aged 7 to 14, women and disabled and neurodivergent young people
  • Education: homework club and intervention programmes for at-risk young people
  • Employability: training, guidance and qualification support to build skills and encourage career progression
  • Youth leadership: weekly youth council meetings shaping the organisation’s work and decisions
  • Support services: one-to-one and group mentoring, including gender-specific support groups

Partner

Education and sport for vulnerable children in Afghanistan

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Kabul, Nangarhar and Parwan provinces, Afghanistan
Start date 01/01/2025
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €316,230
Foundation funding €75,000
Project identifier 2024001460
Partners Action for Development (Switzerland)
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Afghanistan has experienced over five decades of conflict, violence and systemic inequality, leading to significant loss of life, displacement, poverty and food insecurity.  

Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, the situation has deteriorated further, particularly for women and girls, who face severe restrictions on their rights to education, work and participation in public life. Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls aged 13 and over are denied access to formal education.  

These developments have been accompanied by a rise in gender-based violence, including forced marriages, trafficking and child labour, leaving women and girls in a state of even greater vulnerability. 

School closures threaten to create a generation of illiterate women and girls and fuel cycles of poverty and social inequality.  

Education and physical activities such as sport are vital to address these challenges. They not only counteract the destructive effects of conflict but also foster resilience, self-confidence and hope among children, helping them overcome the mental and social scars of prolonged oppression. 

Project goals

Overall objective 

Reduce poverty and child labour by educating and improving the quality of life of children in Afghanistan and equipping them to support themselves as they enter adulthood 

Specific objectives 

  • Provide access to quality education and food to 750 children through centres for street-working children and home-based schooling 
  • Improve the life skills and resilience of children aged 13 and over with a focus on improving gender parity  
  • Provide vocational education and training to 50 students 

Project content

The project will focus on providing education and sports opportunities to two main groups in Kabul, Nangarhar and Parwan provinces: out-of-school street-working children aged 6 to 13 (boys and girls) and out-of-school girls aged 13 to 17, fostering resilience in the face of ongoing adversity, promoting mental well-being and equipping them with the tools needed to build a brighter future.  

AfD provides semi-formal education (basic literacy, numeracy, sport, computer literacy), food, psychosocial support, football training, health checks and vaccinations to the young street-working children, remote schooling from home for girls aged 13 and over, and various vocational training options. All education centres are designed to be within walking distance for the beneficiaries. 

AfD develops special training and online learning methodologies to ensure access to education and improve digital literacy skills and confidence with education technology. 

Teachers are given training, support with school supplies, internet access, a high-quality, flexible curriculum and a teaching platform for remote schooling.  

AfD will build relationships with universities to promote scholarships for vulnerable girls, and will continue to advocate for and provide English language classes to broaden Afghan students’ access to global educational platforms, many of which are available only in English. 

As well as English and computer classes, AfD teaches about children’s and human rights, the realities of child and human trafficking, coping mechanisms, mental stress and resilience. 

Partners

Bloomsbury Communities

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location London, UK
Start date 09/09/2024
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €456,373
Foundation funding €47,505
Project identifier 2024000446 
Partners Bloomsbury Football Foundation
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Only 44% of young people (and 41.9% of girls) from low-income households in the UK currently meet the government’s physical activity guidelines. Physical and mental health is therefore being put at risk, while systemic health and social inequalities are being exacerbated. Many young people simply cannot afford to play football, with girls, child refugees and asylum-seekers, and children with disabilities facing additional barriers.   

Project goals

  • Improve mental and physical health, social mobility and life opportunities for children in London’s most disadvantaged and deprived areas.  
  • Enable participants to form positive relationships with young people from other national, ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds   
  • Help participants feel more integrated into their communities   
  • Improve participants’ ability to understand and control their emotions   

Project content

The project will provide opportunities for young people, including refugee and disabled children, to take part in football programmes in housing estates, schools and community centres in deprived areas of London, creating hyper-localised ‘football communities’. The charity’s financial assistance and the accessible nature of activities will ensure that no child is turned away. 

Partners

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

Location and general information

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

Context

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

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

Project goals

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

Project content

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

Partners

She Should Play

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Bangui, Central African Republic
Start date 02/01/2025
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €14,733
Foundation funding €14,733
Project identifier 2024001462
Partners iACT
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Nearly one third of the Central African Republic’s population has been displaced by violence, and even those not displaced have been affected by the ongoing conflict. Women and girls continue to face gender inequity and disempowerment, including in sport. For example, they have very few opportunities to play football, because it is still considered a male sport. The impact of this exclusion reverberates through girls’ lives, affecting how they see themselves in the world. 

Project goals

  • Increase the number of girls playing organised football in Bangui 
  • Break down barriers that block girls’ access to football 
  • Change perceptions around girls in football 

Project content

  • Football camp run by the Refugees United Football Academy for girls aged 8 to 17  
  • Workshops with parents and teachers 
  • Hiring female coaches 
  • Providing equipment and hygiene products for participants 
  • Closing exhibition match and community celebration 

Partners

ADEC – promoting children’s education and personal development through sport

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Calheta, Santiago (Cape Verde)
Start date 05/05/2020
End date Ongoing
Cost of the project €108,510
Foundation funding €30,000
Project identifier 2024000879
Partners Cabo Verde Stiftung für Bildung (Foundation for Education)
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In Cape Verde, in particular the Calheta region on the island of Santiago, young people face high levels of poverty and limited opportunities.  Many children live in precarious conditions without access to adequate education or academic support. Families lack resources, which limits their children’s access to academic support, sport and leisure activities. These inequalities hinder the personal and professional development of young people, who have no chance of a sustainable future. This affects girls and young women in particular. 

The ADEC project (Academía do Desporto, Educação e Cultura – the Academy of Sports, Education and Culture) aims to reduce these inequalities by meeting the educational and social needs of a community that has too often been marginalised, and by offering girls in particular support so as to promote equal opportunities. 

Project goals

The Cabo Verde Foundation for Education supports several educational projects so as to improve the future prospects of children and young people in Cape Verde. It also aims to empower girls and promote equal opportunities.  

ADEC combines education and sport to break the cycle of poverty and to offer new opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly girls and young women.  

Together, these projects support young people in Cape Verde with their personal and professional development in order to achieve the following goals:
 

  • improve access to education through quality academic support programmes and tutoring for disadvantaged children 
  • encourage girls to participate in sport, particularly football, to promote gender equality 
  • improve youth employability through training and academic support 
  • create a structured framework that promotes personal development through sport and education 

Project content

  • Educational support and tutoring
    Pupils receive daily academic support, notably IT lessons to develop their digital skills and tutoring to improve their school grades. ADEC complements rather than replaces school. These academic support sessions are compulsory for any child or young people wishing to participate in the project’s other activities. 
  • Sport, personal development and inclusion
    Football is used as an educational and social tool to teach discipline, teamwork and perseverance. Girls, often marginalised in sporting activities, are actively encouraged to participate. They form teams and enter local, regional and national competitions, thereby boosting motivation and engagement among the members. 
  • Nutrition
    Every child receives one healthy meal a day, which ensures that their nutritional intake is sufficient for their well-being and concentration. 
  • Raising awareness and workshops
    Topical workshops tackle key issues such as preventing drug abuse or sexually transmitted diseases, all while encouraging gender equality and environmental awareness. ADEC also believes that it is very important to instil values and promote healthy social interactions. 
  • Transport
    A transport service has been set up to allow children, especially the very young, to access sporting and educational facilities. 

 

These initiatives combine to give children the necessary tools to build a better future, all while enhancing social cohesion within their community. 

Partners

Girls4Football

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland
Start date 05/24/2024
End date 05/24/2025
Cost of the project €450,000
Foundation funding €-
Project identifier 20240001
Partners Mastercard and local implementing organisations
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Sponsors - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Girls4Football is a social impact initiative launched by Mastercard in partnership with the UEFA Foundation for Children. Rooted in the long-standing collaboration between Mastercard and the UEFA Champions League, the programme addresses the need for inclusive, empowering opportunities for young girls in Europe. It responds to the growing recognition that sports, particularly football, can be a powerful vehicle for personal development, social inclusion, and gender equality.

The initiative was officially launched on March 18, 2025, and is being rolled out in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It aims to reach over 1,000 girls aged 8 to 16 in its first year. This marks the beginning of a three-year project, with this being the first phase of the initiative.

Project goals

The primary goals of the Girls4Football programme are to:

  • Empower young girls through access to free football training and socio-educational activities.
  • Promote physical and emotional well-being through regular sports and leisure engagement.
  • Foster life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
  • Enhance financial literacy by teaching participants how to manage money, budgets, and investments.
  • Encourage career aspirations in and around football, including roles off the pitch.

Project content

The programme includes a variety of components designed to support holistic development:

  • Football Training: Free, inclusive sessions focused on skill-building, teamwork, and fun, with a strong emphasis on encouraging girls to participate in sports.
  • Financial Literacy Course: Workshops and interactive sessions that teach essential money management skills, helping girls build a healthy relationship with finances from a young age.

Special Events:

  • Opportunities to serve as Mastercard Player Mascots at UEFA Champions League matches in cities like Paris, Munich, Milan, Madrid, and London.
  • Meet-and-greets with female football ambassadors who serve as role models.
  • Workshops with professionals such as nutritionists, physiotherapists, and referees to expose girls to diverse career paths in sports.

Local partners: To bring this initiative to life, Mastercard and the UEFA Foundation for Children have partnered with NGOs from the five countries:

Partner

Youth Transformation

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Kenya
Start date 02/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €126,000
Foundation funding €100,000
Project identifier 2024001568
Partners Mathare Youth Sport Association
Categories Access to Sport - Employability - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Young people in the Mathare district of Nairobi face a myriad of challenges ranging from unemployment and poverty to social exclusion and violence.

Crime and violence are commonplace in the slum communities of Kenya, and children and young people are highly vulnerable to such acts. According to various studies, young people are both frequent victims and perpetrators of crime.

This highlights the urgent need for initiatives that harness the power of sport to address the multifaceted challenges facing young people today.

Project goals

  • Empower young people by developing their essential life skills and leadership qualities and providing opportunities for personal growth and social inclusion
  • Foster social cohesion and harmony by bringing together diverse communities through shared sports experiences and collaborative initiatives
  • Integrate sports and education to enhance learning outcomes, promote healthy lifestyles and advocate for gender equity while equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful
  • Raise public awareness of the negative effects of risky behaviours and work with the community to combat such behaviours
  • Educate communities about harmful stereotypes and promote respect for diversity

Project content

Mathare Youth Sports Association encourages sport as an alternative to risky and anti-social behaviour, offering sufficient structure, discipline and incentive to steer children and young people away from drugs, violence and crime. It runs boys' and girls' football leagues in a safe, inclusive environment and with an emphasis on life skills and values. These leagues serve as an intervention tool to address problems facing the community.

The project's activities include:

  • Football for all league
  • Sports training programmes
  • Life skills workshops
  • Mentorship programmes
  • Community engagement initiatives
  • School outreach campaigns
  • Coach education sessions
  • Gender initiative campaigns
  • Monitoring and evaluation

Partners

Kick for Hope

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Jordan
Start date 01/01/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €400,000
Foundation funding €175,000
Project identifier 2024000682
Partners Association Football Development Programme (AFDP) Global
Categories Access to Sport - Conflict victims - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Infrastructure and equipment - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

Relative to population size, Jordan hosts the second highest number of refugees in the world, including 706,100 registered Syrian refugees (approximately 7% of the population). Unregistered numbers are much higher, estimated at more than 1.5 million or 20% of the population. Over half (51%) are children, and over 80% are surviving below the poverty line.

The Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps have been hosting Syrian refugees since 2011 who have never returned to their homeland. Overcrowding and a shortage of resources in the camps limit the recreational activities and safe spaces available for children to play and socialise. The absence of structured activities can result in boredom, frustration and behavioural issues, which further hinder children and young adults’ emotional and psychological well-being and development.

Project goals

  • Build the capacity of Syrian coaches and create opportunities for employment
  • Provide children with access to safe spaces to enjoy football and other sports activities
  • Promote life skills through sport
  • Create professional development and competitive opportunities for young refugees
  • Create football clubs in the camps
  • Enter Syrian refugee teams in the local U13 boys’ and U14 girls’ grassroots football leagues and the Jordan Judo League

Project content

  • Selection of Syrian youth coaches and administrators
  • In-person training for coaches, coordinators and admin teams
  • Ongoing football and other sports activities for children and young adults
  • Football leagues for all age groups
  • Judo and table tennis activities, and Zumba classes for girls

Partners

Génération Sportive

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Morocco, Tunisia and Libya
Start date 01/02/2025
End date 12/31/2025
Cost of the project €260,247
Foundation funding €150,000
Project identifier 2024000931
Partners Tibu Morocco
Categories Access to Sport - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

For children in Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, access to physical education is limited, the school dropout rate is high and the economic situation is far from easy. Moreover, in Libya and Tunisia, their lives are made even harder by war and instability.

Lack of access to sport and physical education is detrimental to children’s physical and mental health, and it limits their personal development. This can lead to young people taking risks, including illegal migration.

Project goals

  • Improve children’s physical and mental health by integrating sport and physical exercise into the school syllabus of 20 primary schools, encouraging 12,000 children to exercise regularly
  • Create jobs for young adults to foster their social and economic inclusion
  • Promote gender equality
  • Reduce the school dropout rate by creating a more stimulating and inclusive school environment
  • Offer an alternative to illegal migration by creating jobs for local people and opportunities for economic inclusion

Project content

  • Supervised sports sessions in primary schools featuring activities designed to improve children’s motor skills, coordination and self-esteem
  • Health and well-being workshops teaching young people about nutrition, hygiene and healthy lifestyles
  • Promoting gender equality through the equal participation of boys and girls
  • Training and employing 20 young adults as sports activity leaders
  • Annual national tours delivering sports and educational activities in schools across each country, including in rural areas, with the participation of 9,200 children as well as their parents and teachers
  • Engaging parents, teachers and the local community to ensure the programme’s sustainability

Partners

T.E.A.M Project

Location and general information

Ongoing
Location Scotland
Start date 04/01/2025
End date 03/31/2026
Cost of the project €148,000
Foundation funding €78,144
Project identifier 2024001326
Partners Big Hearts Community Trust
Categories Access to Sport - Children with disabilities - Gender Equality - Healthy lifestyle - Personal development - Strengthening partnerships

Context

In Scotland, vulnerable children affected by trauma, poverty, cultural differences, language barriers, disabilities or mental health issues are at risk of struggling with the transition from primary to secondary school. Support for these children has been found to be particularly insufficient in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Paisley, Motherwell and Greenock.

Project goals

The T.E.A.M project uses football as a tool to improve the resilience and social connectedness of vulnerable children. It aims to:

  • Encourage new friendships and social connections
  • Help to forge connections between participants and their community
  • Improve physical health
  • Boost confidence and well-being

Project content

The project delivers weekly football sessions alongside confidence and resilience-building activities for 250 marginalised children aged 10 to 12, and they are also given a healthy snack during each session.

More than 80% of the children experience an improvement in their confidence and well-being. Parents feel more confident in supporting their children and children feel better connected in their personal relationships.

A model and learning plan are being developed with a view to rolling the programme out to more Scottish communities in the medium to long term.

Partners