We were there: The #EU BeInclusive Sport Awards 2021

Our educational program “Fußball trifft Kultur” was nominated for the #BeInclusive EU Sport Awards 2021.
Each year, the European Commission presents the awards to programs that use the power of sport to empower socially disadvantaged people.

Together with two other great projects from the International Judo Federation (Hungary) and Politecnico de Milano (Italy), we were nominated for the award in the “Breaking Barriers” category with “Fußball trifft Kultur”.
This category addresses projects and programs that specifically overcome barriers in order to increase diversity of opportunity and enable participation in sport.

The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, as an in-person and online event in Brussels’ European Quarter.
We ourselves accepted the personal invitation of the European Commission and attended the event.
Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, finally announced the winners in the evening.
In the end, our Italian co-finalists from the Politecnico di Milano were delighted to receive the winner’s trophy with their outstanding project “GIFT”.
We were also very proud of our shared second place and afterwards had inspiring discussions with inspiring personalities from the nominated project sponsors.

The preliminary phase included short interviews with all finalists.
As part of this, the European Commission writes about “Fußball trifft Kultur”:

Thanks to these doses of inspiration provided by FtK, children from underprivileged areas now feel prouder and more prepared when it comes to learning.
With passion as the main ingredient, “Football meets Culture” has figured out a way to balance education, sport and culture.
These three components of pedagogic advancement are best described by the internal motto, ‘Starts little and develops big’. This is the ultimate goal of FtK: to expand social horizons for children from neglected areas.

Click here for the full website article on “Fußball trifft Kultur” published by the European Commission.

Children’s press conference at VfL Bochum

Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum

Many kids dream of meeting a real professional footballer. For the boys and girls from “Fußball trifft Kultur” at the Werner von Siemens School, this dream came true.

On Tuesday, April 28, the children from the Bochum “Fußball trifft Kultur” group went on a short trip to the Vonovia Stadium. The 22 girls and boys had the opportunity to meet their new sponsor in person at a children’s press conference in the Stadtwerke Bochum LOUNGE: Christopher Antwi-Adjei, professional footballer at VfL Bochum, answered the pupils’ questions directly and won their affection in no time at all.

Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Einen echten Profi-Fußballer treffen – davon träumen viele Kids. Für die Jungs und Mädchen von „Fußball trifft Kultur“ an der Werner von Siemens Schule ging dieser Traum in Erfüllung. Am Dienstag, den 28. April, ging es für die Kinder aus der Bochumer „Fußball trifft Kultur“-Gruppe auf eine kleine Reise ins Vonovia Stadion. Die 22 Mädchen und Jungen hatten die Gelegenheit, im Rahmen einer Kinder-Pressekonferenz in der Stadtwerke Bochum LOUNGE, ihren neuen Paten persönlich kennen zu lernen: Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Fußballprofi des VfL Bochum, stellte sich direkt den Fragen der Schülerinnen und Schülern und gewann in Windeseile ihre Sympathie.
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum
Kinderpressekonferenz beim VfL Bochum

The children quickly lost all their shyness and learned in the exciting Q&A session, for example, how Antwi-Adjei found his way into professional soccer or how he prepares for matches. They also learned a lot about Jimmy’s eating habits, taste in music and hobbies. Conversely, the new project sponsor was also very interested in the pupils’ habits. In the end, of course, every photo request was fulfilled and the group agreed that they were already looking forward to further highlights with the new project sponsor. VfL Bochum has certainly gained a few new fans now and the children were able to gain inspiration for the rest of the FtK-ClubChallenge 2022 many exciting impulses.

In addition to Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Gizem Killic, VfL player and coach of the project, remains the sponsor of “Fußball trifft Kultur”.

© Photos: VfL Bochum 1848 / Dustin Bialas

“Fußball trifft Kultur” turns 15 years old

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of “Fußball trifft Kultur” together with our friends and supporters.
We are taking this as an opportunity to look back on the success story in a short flashback.

Together, more than 250 of our teachers and coaches have been able to support over 3,600 children on their educational journey.
The special thing about “Fußball trifft Kultur” was its socially sustainable focus from the very beginning: firstly, our program participants take part in the program for two years.
Over this period, the children receive over 17,000 minutes of support through our triad of language, soccer and culture.
Secondly, the program does not provide selective impulses, but supports the children in the groundbreaking two years before and after the transition from primary to secondary school.

Although “Fußball trifft Kultur” has already been running for 15 years and has always served a great need, the program has never been as relevant as it is today in the wake of the continuous and increasing educational shortcomings in Germany – “Fußball trifft Kultur” makes a targeted contribution to compensating for the everyday building blocks of children and young people that have been significantly lost or neglected even during the pandemic.
The holistic approach to school improvement, exercise and social interaction offers children a toolbox for their further personal development.

The overarching goal of “Fußball trifft Kultur” will always remain to make an important post for more educational equality and equal opportunities in Germany.
Many thanks to all our partners who support us on this journey!

© Header: DFL Foundation / Guido Kirchner; 2010: Thorsten Wagner; 2012: Andreas Schröder; 2013: Nadine Rupp; 2015: DFL Foundation; 2018, 2019: DFL Foundation / Guido Kirchner; 2020: DFL Foundation / Thorsten Wagner; 2014, 2021, 2022: LitCam / Witters / Jörg Halisch