The Real Betis Foundation launches Diversity Wins project in Seville

The Real Betis Foundation launches Diversity Wins project in Seville

The Real Betis Balompié Foundation is implementing the Diversity Wins programme at different schools in Seville. This programme is being rolled out with more European clubs and foundations. Through Diversity Wins, project manuals have been delivered to several schools in Seville so that teachers can inspire students to celebrate diversity both at school and within their communities.

This season, the Foundation has launched a new project co-funded by the European Union. This is Diversity Wins, which is being developed in Europe together with the organisations Show Racism the Red Car the Netherlands, TIE, EFDN, Bayer Leverkusen, the Club Brugge Foundation, Fundación Alcoraz, Fundación Excelsior, Rangers Charity Foundation and Valerenga Football.

The Real Betis Balompié Foundation is implementing this project at the Instituto de Enseñanza Obligatoria Néstor Almendros in Tomares and at the Colegio Internacional Alminar in Dos Hermanas.

Diversity Wins is a school programme dedicated to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion. Through this project, the aim is to encourage new generations to respect every member of society regardless of race, gender, religion or sexuality, using football and the visibility of professional players to inspire students to celebrate diversity both at school and within their communities.

For the implementation of this programme, a teacher’s manual and a workbook have been developed for children to learn in a didactic way. The final session of Diversity Wins will be a football match at the school to share the values learned and celebrate diversity.

About Diversity Wins

The primary focus of Diversity Wins is to address the issue of violence, racism, discrimination, and intolerance in sports. Additionally, it aims to promote inclusion and diversity in all areas of education, training, youth, and sports while emphasizing the importance of education through sports. The main target audience for the programme is children and young people between the ages of 10 and 16. The programme will employ an educational approach to raise awareness about racial, LGBTQ+, religious, and gender-based discrimination. It will consist of various activities such as workshops, courses, interactive sessions, and expert presentations. These sessions will be conducted in schools as well as grassroots and academy football clubs.

Alongside educating children and young people, efforts will also be made to train teachers, sports coaches, and organisational staff. They will be provided with informative and impactful sessions to deliver to children, and they will learn how to engage in discussions about complex topics, use appropriate language and terminology, reflect on their behaviours, and respond to discriminatory abuse if reported. This will be facilitated through an online training course that covers essential topics and offers information, insight, and advice. European professional football holds immense influence over the general public and, therefore, carries a distinct responsibility to promote a safe and inclusive society.

Diversity Wins will leverage the prominent status of European football and professional football players to spread the project’s message and contribute to the establishment of a united European stance against discrimination in both sports and society.