Werder Bremen players open new ‘SPIELRAUM’ court

Werder Bremen players open new ‘SPIELRAUM’ court

Werder Bremen has opened up a new football court in Bremen which is part of the club’s ‘SPIELRAUM Project’. Ishak Belfodil and Robert Bauer, players of the first team, joined the grand opening of the pitch for a football match.

25 boys and girls played together with the professional players on the court which is located in a quarter known for its high-rise housing. Ishak Belfodil, who has found his way out of the Parisian suburb, thanks to football, talked in Arabic with some boys. Robert Bauer gave his ten-year-old teammate an assist to the first goal, then they celebrate together. The Bundesliga stars were and the young participants played together like they were long-term buddies during the game.

“You can notice how grateful the children are that there is this offer. I think that’s great. That’s why Ishak and I were immediately enthusisastic about the project”, explained Robert Bauer his motivation.

Integration work at six sites in the city

The ‘SPIELRAUM Project’ started in 2011 and is committed to social inclusion at six locations in Bremen. To offer a sports venue and to provide a meeting place in the middle of the city, Werder Bremen cooperates with SOS Children’s Village Worpswede. This charity organisation hosts children in need and supports the kids in their personal development.

A goal that the project coordinator from Werder Bremen shares and supports: “We use our Werder coaches regularly at the football fields and animate the kids to be active. The goal is to get children and young people excited about team sport, to promote their personal development, to provide them with a meeting place in the middle of the city, where they can meet their friends and, of course, have fun.”

Two volunteers share their experiences

Two students from the Werder project “100 Schools – 100 Clubs”, who have supported the kids voluntarily since the beginning, will help at the court. Kassem Celik and Melissa Knief, who both go to high school and get support from SOS Children’s Village, play with the children of different nations. Their voluntary work gives them the feeling to be able to move something with simple actions.

“Sometimes the boys are spoiling for a fight, of course, but that quickly vanishes while playing. I have the feeling that I can teach the children values like the respect for others or show them how sport can connect,” says Melissa Knief, who is happy about her involvement in the project:  “The small moments of success make the work here so special.”

Therefore, Werder Bremen and its partners will go on to transform unused or newly created places together with young people into lively places.