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We are excited to announce our latest Sport Together Fund Grantees in partnership with the New Balance Foundation. The five recipients, across France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, and are helping young people with refugee experiences rebuild their lives. While they have different approaches, all intentionally use sport to promote inclusion, wellness and positive youth development.
The need is great. As of June 2024, 122.6 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. This is a 5% increase from the end of 2023 and almost double the number of displaced people from a decade ago. The Sport Together Fund delivered by Beyond Sport provides grants and capacity-building support to nonprofit organizations, sports clubs and collectives that are assisting communities facing humanitarian crises and displacement. The Fund also supports the transit and host communities where people are rebuilding their lives.
With a shared goal of championing the future success of today’s young people, we’re proud to once again have New Balance Foundation’s support for the second year running. Their mission is to invest in vibrant communities and bright futures through sport, and for more than 40 years New Balance Foundation has granted $150 million USD to help change a generation. In 2024 alone, the Foundation will have granted $12.4 million USD to 90 non-profits in the communities where their associates live and work across the globe. Thanks to continued support of our Sport Together Fund, we’ll be able to respond to the pressing needs of young people across Europe to provide opportunities and access to safe spaces in which they can learn, move and explore opportunities for a brighter future.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Beyond Sport and their Sport Together Fund.” says Paola Bethmage, New Balance Foundations Global Grants Manager. “Their dedication to supporting children and young people with refugee experiences through sport-based programs is truly inspiring. We are proud to be given the opportunity to grow our support for the Sport Together Fund – using the power of sport to create positive change.”
Congratulations to our 2024 recipients!
New grantees include:
- Kabubu – Located in France, the nonprofit promotes the inclusion of exiled peopel through the unifying power of sport. Kabubu is a Swahili term that signifies friendship through sport. Channeling this belief, the organization breaks down prejudices by creating spaces for refugee/displaced communities and local people to connect and build bonds through a mutual love of sport. Kabubu will use the grant to support its “Coop-R Sport” initiative, which unites refugees and locals through regular sporting sessions to encourage integration. Its various programs offer inclusive sports activities, coaching, language support, employability training and awareness workshops that highlight the challenges faced by refugees and displaced people.
- Fútbol Más Spain – With locations around the world, the nonprofit uses sport and play to create safe spaces for youth and build community. Through football and its Green Card Methodology, which rewards positive behaviors amongst participants, the organization promotes physical and emotional wellbeing, education and inclusion. In Spain, it is supporting refugee and migrant youth in Madrid and Seville, many of whom have come from Bolivia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Honduras, Iran, Colombia, Senegal and Iraq. Fútbol Más Spain combines football sessions with workshops addressing life skills development, community engagement and emotional health. With access to skills training and employment being a significant challenge for refugee youth, it will use the grant to develop their leadership capabilities. It intends to recruit 10 youth aged 18-22 from refugee communities and help them gain experience as volunteers delivering socio-sport sessions.
Returning grantees include:
- Fútbol Más France – In France, the organization is supporting refugee and migrant communities through sport-based initiatives that address trauma, self-confidence and social-emotional skills. Since 2018, the organization has been supporting refugees and migrants in Paris, both in refugee centers and in the local community. The 2023-2024 grant supported the delivery of socio-sport sessions through its Social Sport Academy project, which helps children living in refugee/migrant shelters improve their health and wellbeing. In 2024-2025, it will use the grant to help continue delivering the sessions while expanding them to include youth from low-income communities in order to promote integration.
- SPORTS for MORE eV – Since 2017, the German organization has been aiding refugees aged 8-20 and neighboring migrant communities. The club combines boxing with youth social work to drive integration, physical and mental health, respect, social skills and tolerance. Young people develop athletically and personally in the safe spaces it provides, building their networks and the ability to be their authentic selves. A majority of its participants come from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Russian Federation. The 2023-2024 grant supported ‘introduction to boxing’ workshops at refugee housing locations in Berlin. In 2024-2025, the grant will help expand this programming which is set to introduce weekly girl and women-only sessions.
- Sportief Besteed Groep – SBG operates across various municipalities in South Holland and the Netherlands, creating activities that inspire and motivate individuals of all ages and backgrounds to actively engage in their communities. It offers a range of programs that address issues of loneliness and integration among refugee communities. The migrants and refugees it assists range from 16 to 22-years-old and live in emergency shelters. Most have been displaced from Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and Afghanistan. The 2023-2024 grant supported football and multi-sport activities that promote social integration and healthy, active lifestyles. In 2024-2025, the grant will continue to support the delivery of these programs, which also offer language skills and personal guidance.
Collaborating to create positive impact
With children making up one-third of refugees and migrants across Europe, Beyond Sport was also thrilled to join New Balance’s EMEA HR (Human Resources) Annual Summit in Amsterdam last month to further support the Fund. More than 70 New Balance associates volunteered to pack 1000 backpacks with New Balance gear and personal notes for young people with refugee experiences. We sent the bags to 11 sport-based nonprofits in France, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands.
“Dear New Balance, thank you so much for the amazing gift bag! Getting this made me feel so special and proud to be part of the Girl Power team here in Athens. Knowing that you believe in us and our love for football means everything. Your support gives me more confidence to play, dream and work hard for my goals. Thank you for being there for us and helping us feel like true athletes!” shared a recipient from Girl Power Organisation.
Thank you to the New Balance Foundation and New Balance associates for spreading positivity and giving back to communities in need!
Beyond Sport is proud to partner with the New Balance Foundation to help foster a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous society. Learn more about the Sport Together Fund delivered by Beyond Sport here.
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