It has already been a busy start to 2020 for the AFDP Global team, with a number of exciting networking, event and project opportunities.
At the beginning of February, we were delighted to attend the first Global Sports Week (GSW) conference held in Paris, a new interactive forum that brings together leading figures in sport from all over the world to establish sport-led approaches for building a better future. The Chairman and Co-Founder of GSW, Lucien Boyer, is a close friend of our CEO, JF Cecillon, and approached us last year when looking to engage support from sports institutions and NGOs. As conversations developed, we discussed the opportunity for our founder, HRH Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, to deliver a keynote speech; as well as the ways in which AFDPG and GSW can collaborate going forward.
The event was a huge success, and crucially put the spotlight on young people from the world of sport. Bringing youth voices to the forefront ensured that the status quo was challenged and emphasised our accountability to future generations. The forum gave us the opportunity to meet with many interesting and like-minded individuals with whom we have begun dialogue. HRH Prince Ali also sat on a panel with renowned sports journalist and television presenter Louise Ekland to speak about football’s unique power to shape society. We look forward to expanding our relationship with Lucien and the GSW team over the next year and are already excited to see what promising opportunities the 2021 conference will bring.
Following the successful delivery of socio-educational projects for vulnerable child refugees in Za’atari, we have launched a new initiative in Azraq refugee camp that builds on this model. Working in partnership with the UEFA Foundation for Children, Catalyst Foundation and Lays, Saturday 29th February saw young refugee boys and girls compete in a friendly tournament after months of training and the provision of football-based education. The aim of the project is to use football to provide the young refugees living in the camp with motivation, new skills and friendships. Please find more details about the project here.
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