EFDN Highlights: January 2021
As 2021 comes to an end, EFDN invites you to look back on this year’s activities, projects, and news stories. Take a look at some highlights from January.
FIRST WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE WEBINAR
After announcing the two latest successful EU funding applications ‘Welcome through Football 2021’ and ‘Walking Football League’, the first EFDN Walking Football League Webinar took place on the 21st of January. The partners presented their organisations, what the current situation within their organisation regarding Walking Football was, what their expectations were and what their organisation could bring into the project in terms of experiences, knowledge and best practices. The webinar also featured an overall introduction into the Walking Football League methodology, monitoring & evaluation, finance and reporting.
INSPIRING 2ND EFDN STEM NETWORK CONFERENCE
EFDN hosted its virtual EFDN STEM Network Conference on 28 January. More than 20 clubs from across Europe have attended the conference. EFDN Project Manager Lewis Walker kicked off the conference and talked about the purpose of the STEM Network. He highlighted the need to form STEM alliances among EFDN STEM Network members and STEM organisations across Europe. That way, our STEM Network can be a great platform to collaborate, exchange knowledge and share best practices. As the demand for workers with STEM skills continues to grow exponentially, there is a need to increase and improve the delivery of STEM education programmes. Several EFDN members have launched STEM-related initiatives, for example, Legia Foundation with their FUT-BOT projects, PSV Foundation is working with Brainport and Aston Villa Foundation, Chelsea FC, Everton in the Community and Feyenoord Foundation work with our EFDN STEM Football & Education programme partner Sphero Sports.
Nine EFDN members team up for Welcome through Football 2021
EFDN Members participating in the Welcome Through Football 2021 project virtually met on 20 January. The project is funded by the European Union and runs for three years from January 2021 to December 2023. Nine partners from six countries – Portugal, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Belgium – are participating. The programme is targeted at children and young adults between seven and 25 years. The goal is to reach 240 contact hours per club in total by delivering 12×2 sessions of two hours a week. There will also be a multiplier sport event that is designed as a community event to celebrate diversity within communities and to promote social cohesion and integration and disseminate the methodology.
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
January 27th marks the day we commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. This year, on the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, EFDN showcased the work our members have taken on to stand against Antisemitism and pay homage to those we lost by doing special match days or league-wide campaigns.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WEBINAR ABOUT COVID-19-PROOF ACTIVITIES
On 27 January, the clubs participating in the Community Champions League, met online to discuss the next steps considering the fact that many countries have enforced a lockdown due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. The Community Champions League is an EFDN project in partnership with nine community-engaged football clubs from the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Norway, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium and Germany. NAC Breda, Feyenoord, Aberdeen FC, Chelsea FC, Club Brugge, SV Werder Bremen, Vålerenga Fotball, Ferencvarosi TC and SL Benfica deliver the Pan-European programme in collaboration with EFDN.
Member News
Bohemian FC appointed Seán McCabe as their first Climate Justice Officer to focus on community-led development for climate justice in partnership with other community stakeholders in Dublin 7.
Olympique de Marseille continues its commitment to the fight against violence against women. The Foundation just announced the 2021 action plan which included four initiatives.
New Members
In January, EFDN welcomed new members MFC Foundation, Sparta Rotterdam, Almere City FC.
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
