AFC Ajax has become a member of EFDN - European Football for Development Network

AFC Ajax joins the European Football for Development Network

The European Football for Development Network is happy to announce that AFC Ajax and its Foundation join the European Football for Development Network to collaboratively, with more than 50 clubs from all over Europe, to work on a European level in the field of Community and Social Responsibility.

As the biggest club in the Netherlands, AFC Ajax believes it’s important that the club live up to their social responsibility. Ajax sets an example both on and off the field. The club and its Foundation are conscious of this, and committed to making a positive impact. Ajax does this with the Ajax Foundation, established on March 18, 2010 as an independent foundation associated with AFC Ajax. John Heitinga has been connected to the foundation as its ambassador since February 2017.

Dreams and opportunities

What do you want to be when you grow up? For so many children, the answer to this question is: ‘A football player with Ajax.’ Combined with the fact that Ajax reaches millions of people globally, this adds up to a significant social responsibility. Of course, only a few of those kids will actually become football players at Ajax, but that doesn’t mean that all of the others shouldn’t be able to pursue their dreams, or seize every chance to bring out the best in themselves. Many kids are supported in this at home, but unfortunately, due to their social or physical situations, many kids are not exposed to these opportunities, and are thus unable to take advantage of them. They have fewer prospects to develop themselves or enjoy the experiences which would bring them closer to achieving their dreams. Sometimes, this is simply to have a normal or healthy life.

AFC Ajax and its Foundation have the mission to offer disadvantaged kids in (greater) Amsterdam and Cape Town, aged under 19, a better outlook by bringing them closer to achieving their goals. Overall, the club and its foundation follow the vision of investing in a society in which all kids have access to equal opportunities when it comes to discovering and developing their talents and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. All work, which AFC Ajax does is based on four pillars; giving kids the opportunity to develop their talents, offering an outlook on a good and healthy lifestyle, inspiring kids to bring out the best in themselves and offering kids joy and fun, so they can forget about their worries for a while. The work the club and foundation do are focused on disadvantages kids between 7 and 19 years of age.

Implementation

Ajax and its Foundation support and organise several social initiatives in the areas of sports & health, education and social integration.

Organising projects for kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods
Organising sports events for kids with a disability
Supporting organisations and initiatives which have the same target group and purpose
Fulfilling wishes for kids who have a (chronic) illness