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.
Project Activities
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Construction of a 5x5 football field at the Schisto Accommodation Structure, featuring a surface made from sustainable materials. The goals, benches, and corner flags were made using plastic caps collected by the residents as part of the program.
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Installation of solar-powered lighting infrastructure to meet the needs of the football field.
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Construction of a community kiosk made from sustainable materials, serving as a meeting point for residents.
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Creation of a vegetable garden within the Structure, where residents can plant and harvest quality vegetables and aromatic herbs, while also participating in environmental education and awareness activities.
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Implementation of 124 environmental education activities for both minors and adults residing in the Structure. These include workshops focused on green skills development and environmental awareness, both within and outside the Schisto Structure.
Beneficiaries
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200 residents, asylum seekers, and refugees use the sustainable sports facility on a monthly basis.
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400 minors and adults will participate in environmental workshops and awareness-raising activities.
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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.
Project Activities
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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.
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Sports tournaments in Athens and Thessaloniki.
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Guidance for participating organizations in the development and implementation of a Gender Action Plan.
Beneficiaries
200 girls and young women will participate in the program's activities.
Sport and Growth
Social integration and empowerment of young refugees through sports
Description
The "Sport and Growth" program, in collaboration with the Barça Foundation, implements an innovative sports methodology centered around football as a means to empower and socially integrate 900 children and youth from Asylum Seeker Accommodation 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 the opportunities of young refugees for optimal personal and professional development.
Project Activities
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700 training sessions based on the SportNet methodology of the Barcelona Foundation at the Ritsona and Schisto Refugee Hosting Centers.
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175 training sessions based on the SportNet methodology of the Barcelona Foundation for unaccompanied minors in the center of Athens.
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66 environmental workshops.
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22 activities that bring refugee children into contact with the host community.
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22 professional skills development workshops.
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22 healthy lifestyle promotion workshops in collaboration with the Athens Medical School.
Beneficiaries
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600 children from the Ritsona and Schisto Refugee Hosting Centers.
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300 unaccompanied minors from Shelters in Attica.
PLANET GOALS
Promoting sustainable practices in the world of football
Description
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.
Project Purpose
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Creation of educational material for training football professionals in environmental and social sustainability.
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Development of a digital assessment environment for sustainable practices and strategies.
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Raising public awareness on the issue of climate change through activities in the partner countries.
Project Actions
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Conducting focused interviews and collecting best practices from football professionals regarding the integration of sustainability strategies.
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Writing a best practices guide and developing a handbook to support organizations in adopting more sustainable strategies.
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Developing educational material and creating digital seminars to train football professionals on sustainability issues.
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Creating a digital tool for assessing and measuring the impact of sustainability strategies.
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Promoting climate action through a pan-European online campaign.
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Organizing events in partner countries to highlight sustainability issues and raise public awareness.
Beneficiaries
Professionals and staff working in football organizations, such as amateur and professional clubs, local and national associations, and federations.
Partners
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Real Betis Foundation, Spain.
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Fare Network, Netherlands.
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Eleven Campaign, UK.
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Panhellenic Association of Paid Footballers (PSAPP), Greece.
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Health Life Academy, Croatia.
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University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Italy.
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The Sports Footprint, Greece.
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Aris FC, Greece.
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NK Istra 1961, Croatia.
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Supporters in Campo, Italy.
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ASD Quadrato Meticcio, Italy.
Coordinators
Organization Earth- Greece.
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.
PLANET BALL
Sports as a tool for enhancing environmental education
Description
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.
Project Purpose
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The collection and evaluation of existing practices and methodologies, with the ultimate goal of developing the educational material.
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The implementation of a series of trainings following the "train the trainers" approach, aiming for participants to become ambassadors of these best practices within their clubs and communities.
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Supporting the new ambassadors in disseminating best practices and the outcomes of the project.
Project Actions
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Identification and evaluation of sustainable practices in sports, with a particular focus on football.
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Preparation of a study on current green practices and potential improvement proposals.
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Creation of materials to promote environmental awareness.
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Training of young professionals through the organization of seminars for members of sports organizations.
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Pilot organization of sports festivals to enhance environmental awareness within the community.
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Wide dissemination of educational materials and project activities.
Beneficiaries
Young people, whether professionally involved or not, in football and sports clubs.
Partners
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Real Betis Foundation, Spain.
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Fútbol Más France, France.
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Turkish Football Federation, Turkey.
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Romanian Football Federation, Romania.
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Organization Earth, Greece.
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HJK Helsinki, Finland.
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Nõmme Kalju FC, Estonia.
Coordinator
Sport and Citizenship, France.
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.
Description
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.
Project Purpose
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The exchange of know-how and the strengthening of collaboration among partners for the development of football methodologies that emphasize positive values.
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The development of skills and the training of stakeholders on issues of inclusion and anti-racism.
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The organization of football activities to support the social integration of young refugees.
Project Actions
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Training and awareness-raising on addressing racism through sports.
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Capacity building of at least 60 coaches in football methodologies that promote inclusion and intercultural understanding.
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Organization of football activities for over 2,600 refugees and asylum seekers across 7 countries, enhancing their integration through sport.
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Awareness campaign highlighting the potential of sport as a positive driver for refugee inclusion in host communities.
Beneficiaries
Young refugees and asylum seekers.
Partners
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Common Goal, Germany.
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Asociación Tarjeta Verde, Spain.
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Trenuj Bycie Dobrym, Poland.
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INEX, Czech Republic.
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Organization Earth, Greece.
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Latvian Football Federation, Latvia.
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Nõmme Kalju FC, Estonia.
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Oltalom Sport Association, Hungary.
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Kicken ohne Grenzen, Austria.
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Balon Mundial, Italy.
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Romanian Football Federation, Romania.
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CDA Dragones de Lavapiés, Spain.
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Fare Network, Netherlands.
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RheinFlanke gGmbH, Germany
Coordinator
Common Goal, Germany.
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
Description
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.
Project Purpose
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Promoting gender equality in sports.
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Fostering inclusion and empowerment of refugee women through sport.
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Creating a safe space for refugee women to participate in sports activities.
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Building connections between refugee women and host communities through sport.
Project Actions
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Identifying good practices and developing training structures that facilitate the inclusion of refugee women through their participation in sport.
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Creating mixed teams of refugees and locals to promote the unique power of sport to bring people from different backgrounds together and unite them around a common goal.
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Supporting knowledge exchange and mentoring for coaches working with refugees.
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Organizing a European conference on the inclusion of refugee women in structured sports activities and the promotion of their social integration through sport.
Beneficiaries
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Refugee and asylum-seeking women.
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Coaches working with refugee populations.
Partners
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AE Ramassa, Spain.
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UISP, Italy.
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Girl Power Organization, Denmark.
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Earth Organization, Greece.
Coordinators
Fare Network, Holland.
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.