INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY 2021
International Migrants Day (18 December) aims to raise awareness about the challenges and difficulties of international migration. This years’ theme is “Harnessing the Potential of Human Mobility”. Migrants contribute with their knowledge, networks, and skills to build stronger, more resilient communities. The global social and economic landscape can be shaped through impactful decisions to address the challenges and opportunities presented by global mobility and people on the move.
EFDN and its projects are trying to support raising awareness and developing concepts to ease the process of inclusion once people have arrived at their new location, as well as delivering projects against racism and discrimination. The following project is just one example of the work EFDN does connected to the topic of this international day:
WELCOME THROUGH FOOTBALL
Welcome Through Football is an EFDN initiative. Current projects across Europe receive funding from the Eramus+ programme of the European Union and the UEFA Foundation for Children.
The Welcome Through Football 2021 project aims to assist in the integration and inclusion of recently arrived young refugees, asylum seekers and young people with a migrant background. EFDN and partners will develop and test a European methodology that uses football as a tool to reach refugees and migrants from different ages (7-25 years old) to get them physically and social active in European communities.
Moreover, the project assists football coaches and youth workers in the development and sharing of effective methods in reaching out to the marginalised target group, in preventing racism and intolerance.
WELCOME THROUGH FOOTBALL HAS A 3 STEP PROCESS, WHICH IS:
- Socialisation to sports – providing different football offerings for young refugees of both genders related to their specific requirements such as language skills or the possibility of trauma.
- Socialisation in sports – working on team structure, giving more responsibility to the participants and offering additional steps out with the sports training sessions.
- Socialisation through sports – Focusing on the skills the participants learn from taking part in the available offers so that they qualify for further education in and outside of sports.
THE CLUBS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECTS INCLUDE:
- Shakhtar Social
- Sheffield United Community Foundation
- Fundação Benfica
- Naoberschap United (FC Emmen)
- Werder Bremen
- Everton in the Community
- Apollon Limassol
- AEK Athens
- Big Hearts Community Trust
- Newcastle United Foundation
- KAA Gent
Learn more about the project and its participants here.
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
