Sports for Development
Organization Earth develops programs for the social integration of vulnerable citizens and groups through sports, such as refugees and people with disabilities. The goal is not merely physical exercise but the optimal use of the power of sports as a 'vehicle' for positive social change, ensuring equal opportunities, combating gender inequality, and eliminating all forms of exclusion. Activities follow a sports methodology focused on teaching social values like respect, cooperation, and teamwork, with the ultimate goal of social integration, personal empowerment, and the development of professional skills among participants, as well as the promotion and adoption of a healthy lifestyle. A fundamental pillar of these efforts is environmental awareness and familiarizing beneficiaries with the concept of sustainability.
Goals for Zero Plastic
We strengthen climate sustainability - We reduce plastic pollution
Description
The Goals for Zero Plastic program, part of Adidas' Move for the Planet initiative and in collaboration with Common Goal, aims to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices at the Schisto Asylum Seeker Hosting Center. A key achievement is the construction of a football field with sustainable turf, accompanied by equipment (goals, benches, corner flags) made from 219,000 plastic caps (312 kg of plastic) collected by residents.
Target group
-
200 residents, asylum seekers, and refugees use the sustainable sports facility on a monthly basis.
-
400 minors and adults will participate in environmental workshops and awareness-raising activities.
Project Activities
-
Construction of a 5x5 football field at the Schisto Refugee Hosting Center, with the turf made from sustainable materials, and the goals, benches, and corner flags made from plastic caps which
collected by the residents of the Center as part of the program.
-
Installation of lighting infrastructure powered by photovoltaic panels for the needs of the field.
-
Construction of a pavilion made from sustainable materials, serving as a community meeting space.
-
Creation of a vegetable garden within the Center where residents can plant and harvest quality vegetables and aromatic herbs, as well as participate in environmental education and awareness activities.
-
Implementation of 124 environmental education activities for minor and adult residents at the Center. These activities include workshops on developing green skills and raising awareness within and outside the Schisto Center.
adidas Breaking Barriers
We promote gender equality in sports
Description
The Breaking Barriers program, supported by Adidas and in collaboration with Common Goal, focuses on empowering girls and women to combat gender-based violence in sports. Over 200 girls and women benefit from educational seminars, sports tournaments, and strategies aimed at eliminating gender inequality.
Target group
-
200 girls and young women will participate in the program's activities.
Project Activities
-
A series of educational seminars on gender equality, the elimination of gender-based violence, and the empowerment of female participation and leadership in organized sports.
-
Sports tournaments in Athens and Thessaloniki.
-
Guidance for participating organizations in the development and implementation of a Gender Action Plan.
Sport and Growth
Social integration and empowerment of young refugees through sports
Description
The Sport and Growth program, in collaboration with the Barcelona Foundation, uses an innovative sports methodology centered on football as a means to empower and socially integrate 900 children and young people from Asylum Seeker Hosting Centers and Shelters for Unaccompanied Minors. The program offers 700 training sessions, 66 environmental workshops, and activities that promote teamwork, equality, and respect.
Through the development of green skills and the implementation of professional seminars and health promotion workshops, the program enhances opportunities for young refugees for optimal personal and professional development.
Target group
-
600 children from the Ritsona and Schisto Refugee Hosting Centers.
-
300 unaccompanied minors from Shelters in Attica.
Actions
-
700 training sessions based on the SportNet methodology of the Barcelona Foundation at the Ritsona and Schisto Refugee Hosting Centers.
-
175 training sessions based on the SportNet methodology of the Barcelona Foundation for unaccompanied minors in the center of Athens.
-
66 environmental workshops.
-
22 activities that bring refugee children into contact with the host community.
-
22 professional skills development workshops.
-
22 healthy lifestyle promotion workshops in collaboration with the Athens Medical School.
-
22 δράσεις που φέρνουν τα παιδιά-πρόσφυγες σε επαφή με την κοινότητα υποδοχής.
-
22 εργαστήρια απόκτησης επαγγελματικών δεξιοτήτων.
-
22 εργαστήρια προαγωγής ενός υγιεινού τρόπου ζωής σε συνεργασία με την Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών.
PLANET GOALS
Promoting sustainable practices in the world of football
Coordinated by Organization Earth, the PLANET GOALS program aims to enhance the skills of football professionals for the integration of environmental and social sustainability strategies.
Aim of the project:
-
Creation of educational material for training football professionals in environmental and social sustainability.
-
Development of a digital assessment environment for sustainable practices and strategies.
-
Raising public awareness on the issue of climate change through activities in the partner countries.
Project Activities
-
Professionals and employees in football organizations, such as amateur and professional clubs, local and national associations, and federations.
Implementation Period
2023 – 2025
Partners
-
Real Betis Foundation, Spain
-
Fare Network, Netherlands
-
Eleven Campaign, UK
-
Panhellenic Association of Paid Footballers (PSAPP), Greece
-
Health Life Academy, Croatia,
-
University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Italy
Collaborative partners
-
The Sports Footprint, Greece,
-
Aris FC, Greece
-
NK Istra 1961, Croatia,
-
Supporters in Campo, Italy
-
ASD Quadrato Meticcio, Italy
Project Activities
-
Conducting focused interviews and collecting best practices from football professionals on integrating sustainability strategies.
-
Writing a best practices guide and developing a manual to guide organizations toward more sustainable strategies.
-
Developing educational materials and creating digital seminars for training football professionals on sustainability topics.
-
Creating a digital tool to assess and measure the impact of sustainability strategies.
-
Promoting climate action through a pan-European online campaign.
-
Organization of events in partner countries to highlight sustainability issues and raise public awareness.
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union and the EACEA cannot be held responsible for any opinions expressed.
PLANET BALL
Sports as a tool for enhancing environmental education
Coordinated by the organization Sport and Citizenship from France, the PLANET BALL program focuses on developing educational tools for sports clubs and organizations. Its goal is to promote environmentally responsible practices and strengthen environmental protection.
Coordinator
Sport and Citizenship, France
Partners
-
Real Betis Foundation, Spain
-
Fútbol Más France, France
-
Turkish Football Federation, Turkey
-
Romanian Football Federation, Romania
-
Organization Earth, Greece
-
HJK Helsinki, Finaland
-
Nõmme Kalju FC, Esthonia
The purpose of the project is
-
The collection and evaluation of existing practices and methodologies with the ultimate goal of developing educational material.
-
The implementation of a series of trainings, following the 'train the trainers' approach, aiming for the trainees to become ambassadors of these best practices in their clubs and communities.
-
Support for the young ambassadors in disseminating best practices and the outcomes of the program.
The target group is
-
Young people, whether professionally involved or not, in football and sports clubs.
Project Activities
-
Identification and evaluation of sustainable practices in sports, specifically in football.
-
Writing a study on current green practices and potential improvement proposals.
-
Creation of materials to promote environmental awareness.
-
Training of young professionals through organizing seminars for members of sports organizations.
-
Pilot organization of sports festivals to enhance community environmental awareness.
-
Broad dissemination of educational materials and program activities.
Implementation Period
2024 – 2026
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union and the EACEA cannot be held responsible for any opinions expressed.
Football for Unity 2.0
Empowerment and integration of young refugees through football.
Sponsored by the UEFA Foundation for Children and Common Goal, the Football for Unity 2.0 program aims to highlight the positive role of football in empowering and integrating young refugees into host societies.
Partners
-
Common Goal, Germany
-
Asociacion Tarjeta Verde, Spain
-
Trenuj Bycie Dobrym, Poland
-
INEX, Czech Republic
-
Organization Earth, Greece
-
Latvian Football Federation, Latvia
-
Nõmme Kalju FC, Estonia
-
Oltalom Sport Association, Hungary
-
Kicken ohne Grenzen, Austria
-
Balon Mundial, Italy
-
Romanian Football Federation, Romania
-
CDA Dragones de Lavapiés, Spain
-
Fare Network, Netherlands
-
RheinFlanke gGmbH, Germany
The purpose of the project is
-
The exchange of expertise and the strengthening of cooperation between partners for the development of football methodologies with an emphasis on positive values.
-
The development of skills and the training of organizations on issues of integration and anti-racism.
-
The organization of football activities for the integration of young refugees.
The Target Group is
-
Young refugees and asylum seekers.
Project Activities
-
Education and awareness on addressing racism through sports.
-
Training of at least 60 coaches in football methodologies that promote inclusion and intercultural understanding.
-
Organization of football activities for over 2,600 refugees and asylum seekers in 7 countries, aimed at enhancing integration through sports.
-
Awareness campaign on the potential of sports to act as a positive factor in the integration of refugees into host communities.
Implementation Period
2023 – 2025
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union and the EACEA cannot be held responsible for any opinions expressed.
REWINS 2.0
Inclusion of refugee women through sports
The two-year REWINS 2.0 program, coordinated by the Fare Network from the Netherlands and in collaboration with organizations from Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece, aims at the effective integration of refugee women into host communities and encourages their participation in sports activities.
Partners
-
AE Ramassa, Spain
-
UISP, Italy
-
Girl Power Organization, Denmark
-
Earth Organization, Greece
The purpose of the project is
-
"The promotion of gender equality in sports."
-
"The inclusion and empowerment of refugee women through sports."
-
"The creation of a safe space for refugee women to participate in sports activities."
-
"The development of bonds between refugee women and host communities through sports."
The target group is
-
Refugee and asylum-seeking women.
-
Coaches working with refugee populations.
Project Activities
-
Identification of best practices and development of training structures that facilitate the inclusion of refugee women through their participation in sports.
-
Creation of mixed teams of refugees and locals to promote the unique power of sports in bringing people from diverse backgrounds together and uniting them toward a common goal.
-
Support for knowledge exchange and guidance for coaches working with refugees.
-
Organization of a European conference on the inclusion of refugee women in structured sports activities and the promotion of their social integration through sports.
Implementation Period
2024 – 2026
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union and the EACEA cannot be held responsible for any opinions expressed.