International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
Since its foundation, EFDN, also through the #Morethanfootball Action Weeks, has been using the social power of football to positively change the lives of people in European society. This is why we feel that the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace represents perfectly the spirit of what EFDN has built over the last years.
From the 6th of April 2014 onwards, the power of sport has been celebrated worldwide for its ability to strengthen social ties, promote sustainable development and peace, as well as solidarity, and respect. Join us and show us that you are using #Footballforpeace by downloading the files and printing your “Football for Peace” flyer to support the campaign in 2022. We invite you to publish pictures of your staff, players, volunteers and beneficiaries with this #Footballforpeace Flyer on your social media channels and we will share them on the Morethanfootball platform. Let’s stand together for peace!
EFDN Appeal to help Ukraine
Of course, you can also support EFDN’s urgent appeal to European football organisations to help Ukraine.
Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, a member of EFDN, participates in setting and running an emergency ‘Shelter Centre’ in Lviv Stadium in Lviv, Ukraine. EFDN is launching an urgent appeal to football clubs, leagues and associations across Europe to support an emergency ‘Shelter Centre’ in Lviv Stadium in Lviv, Ukraine. The need for safe refuge is becoming rapidly more desperate as terrified people flee war-torn towns and cities across the country. However, with few safe havens remaining, Shakhtar alongside local authorities utilise the Lviv Stadium to open its doors to those in need. Lviv Stadium is in the far western part of Ukraine – where many homeless people have already fled. The Shelter Centre will seek to support and accommodate many of these people as they try to escape the horrors sweeping their country. To succeed, Lviv Arena urgently needs Europe’s clubs and associations to supply essential items – particularly mattresses, travel cots, blankets, pillows and bed linen. Organisations that want to participate can contact EFDN at helpukraine@efdn.org to register their initiative and can then start immediately organising collections, or fundraising and purchasing priority items. To manage the flow of all materials in good order, please contact EFDN before you ship your items to the Stadium of Legia Warsaw.
Many of our members and non-member clubs, leagues and FA’s have already joined and donated:
- Chesterfield FC raised funds for Ukraine
- Foundation 92 supports the people of Ukraine
- FC Shakhtar provides humanitarian assistance in the Lviv region
- Proceeds from practice match Feyenoord-RKC go to projects for refugees in Ukraine
- The 6th Big Hearts day was #Morethanfootball
- The Vålerenga Football family offers help tuo Ukrainian refugees
- Legia Warsaw is #Readytohelp Refugees from Ukraine
- Swedish elite clubs donate a million SEK to war victims in Ukraine
- Aston Villa Family donated to EFDN Ukraine appeal
- Schalke 04 brought donations for Ukraine to EFDN headquarters in Breda
- Shakhtar delivered aid to 6 migrant facilities within a week
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH FOOTBALL
Through its many projects, EFDN has shown that sport and football, in particular, can contribute to the achievement of a more social society and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our Pan-European programmes with clubs, leagues, FAs and other stakeholders from all across Europe show that football is a cost-effective and flexible tool to promote peace and development. Below you find some examples of how we are changing lives through football:
- Show Racism The Red Card
- Community Champions League
- EFDN Youth Exchanges
- Welcome Through Football
- SIDFOOT
- STEP4YOUTH
IDEAS FOR #MORETHANFOOTBALL ACTIVITIES:
- Join the #footballforpeace campaign
- Share what you did or will do to use #footballforpeace
- Hosting webinars/online meetings to share resources
- Sending donations to Ukraine or to aid organisations
- Highlight projects that support peace, cooperation and solidarity
- Wherever possible, create social media content (photos/videos) about your #footballforpeace initiatives
Please use #morethanfootball and feel free to tag our #Morethanfootball social media accounts so we can share your posts and activities.
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
