KICKFAIR recieves Intercultural Award of the UNAOC and BMW Group.

KICKFAIR has been awarded for its concept of international learning with the Intercultural Award of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group last week in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
More than 400 proposals from 70 countries were considered for the award. A group of experts chose the 10 most innovative concepts for intercultural learning and invited them to the award ceremony in Doha were also United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon participated.

Doha 2011: The Winners with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

This award represents a new kind of partnership between the private sector and the UN system that aims to select highly innovative projects that promote exchange and cross-culture understanding, and make a vital contribution to safety and peace in societies around the world.

Link http://www.qatar4unaoc.org/

A lot of exchange at the Beyond Football summit in Cape Town, South Africa

6-November-2011 I The main Focus of the first Beyond Football summit was on developing partnerships: what can we achieve through foottball, if we collaborate and what do we need, to make a partnership successful?

More than 100 representavies from grassroot organizations, football institutions, foundationsa, business comapanies and politics gathered together for one day in Cape Town to exchange about the potential of football for development and education. A main issue was networking and international partnerships. KICKFAIR presented the concept of international leraning cooperation and invited the participants to commonly discuss when a learning cooperation is a success, define challenges and „tasks“ fort he future.

Beyond football is beeing organized by Beyond sport and streetfootballworld and is supported by adias and Impact international. Right after the Beyond Football summit, the Beyond Sport summit has started in Cape town.

Link Beyond Sport summit

Fatuma Adan Abdulkadir receives the Stuttgart Peace Award and visits KICKFAIR Partner-schools in Germany

November-18-2011 I Fatuma Adan Abdulkadirs story is one of the 13 biographies in the project „Through life with a ball“, that KICKFAIR realized with partner organizations from all over the world in the frame of the women’s FIFA World Cup 2011. With her story, Fatuma inspired many students all over Germany.

Now, Fatuma visits some of the students in their schools personally to talk and exchange. Fatuma speaks about her life, her experiences and from her project and answers the questions that students have from having worked with her biography in „Through life with a ball“.

Foto: Jens Volle

Fatuma Adan Abdulkadir is the founder of HODI (Horn of Africa development Initiative) in Marsabit, in the Northern Region of Kenia. Since 2003, the 33 year old laywer is using football to fight in the islamic men world fort he emancipation of girls and women and for peace in the region. This November, she received the Stuttgarter Peace Award of the Anstifter for her work.

KICKFAIR and HODI have known each other since 2009 already. In the FIFA World Cup year 2010, Fatuma travelled with a peace caravane overland from Berlin to Kigali (Ruanda). One Stop was also KICKFAIR.

KICKFAIR and the Peres Center für Peace (Israel) present their learning cooperation at the Laureus Sport for Good summit in London

November-5-2011 I From october 29th to November 2nd, the Laureus Sport for Good summit took place in London. The summit brought together all Laureus funded organizations and projects from all over the world to exchange and learn fom one another in common workshops such as Fundraising strategies, Monitoring and Evaluation, Make your own story and Youth Leadership Development. One workshop was also given by KICKFAIR and the Peres Center for Peace concerning the potential of football in terms of education and learning.

Also Laureus Academy Members like Edwin Moses, Boris Becker, Franz Klammer, Mark Spitz and Dawn Frazer visited the summit, participated in the workshops and talked to project leaders.

I the framework of the Youth Leader workshop, KICKFAIR and the Peres Center for Peace presented their common project „Play for understanding – kick for peace“, that was also funded by the Laureus Sport for Good foundation.

„„KICK FOR UNDERSTANDING-PLAY FOR PEACE“: Youth Leaders from KICKFAIR (Germany), the Peres Center for Peace (Israel) and Al Quds (Palestine) exchange knowledge and experiences

From 12th to the 17th of September the 2nd exchange week between KICKFAIR (Germany), The Peres Center for Peace (Israel) and the Al Quds Association for Democracy and Dialogue (Palestine) has taken place in Israel. The focus of the learning cooperation among the three organizations is on how to implement football as an access to education and formation and how to develop Youth leadership through football.

This exchange week in Israel was built directly on the contents, experiences and conclusions of the first exchange which took place at KICKFAIR in Germany from 30th of June until 7th of July 2011. After having exchanged the theoretical approaches and concrete Works on football in terms of education and Youth Leadership in Germany, it was now put on the field and exercised on a very practical level – taking into account the Israeli-Palestinian context, as well as the possibilities for unilateral community work on the one hand, and international cooperation on the other.

Marcel Mauz (20), Michaela Paldauf (25) and Helga Höhn (24), three experienced Youth Leaders of KICKFAIR were leading the workshops with20 youngsters from Israel and Palestine, sharing their knowledge and experiences of how to get involved and how to develop leadership in a project development.

„For our Youngsters it was amazing to realize and feel what opportunities they can develop while taking over more responsibilities within their projects and communities. They are highly motivated to do more. And for us this is a great opportunity to create new frames for participation“, says Inbal Ben-Ezer, project manager at the Peres Center for Peace“.

„I was meeting a complete new reality. Living in Germany, you hear and read about Israel and Palestine and the conflict. But you do not realize to some extent, what challenges people from Israel and Palestine really face here, if they just want to meet and develop something together“ says Marcel from KICKFAIR. And Michaela adds: „... and yes, I mean not only on a personal level, but also on a simple practical one. This week was an extraordinary experience for all of us. Through meeting all these great youngsters from Israel and Palestine, my picture has really changed. And I am looking forward to our common plans in the future.“

The international exchange is being funded by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, The Federal German Ministry of the Interior and adidas

During this exchange week, KICKFAIR and the Peres Center for Peace were also invited to hold a workshop on the potential of football as a tool for education, formation and peace building at the International Conference „Sport as a mediator between cultures“ in Israel. The conference brought together politicians, scientists, project leaders, coaches and decision makers and was being organized by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, The Federal Ministry of Sport Sciences, the international council of sport science and education (ICSSPE) and the Ministry of culture and Sports Israel.

KICKFAIR and the Peres Center for Peace are leading a common workshop at the international conference „Sport as a Mediator between cultures“

From the 15th to the 17th of September an international conference on Sport development and Peace is taking place in Israel. The conference brings together politicians, scientists, project leaders, coaches and decision makers within the topic and is being organized by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, The Federal Ministry of Sport Sciences, the international council of sport science and education (ICSSPE) and the Ministry of culture and Sports Israel. Differant presentations and Workshops will take place. One workshop is going to be held by KICKFAIR and the Peres Center for peace. They will present their projects and introduce the potential of football as a tool for education, formation and peace building.

Delegations from Israel, Palestina, Rwanda and Cambodia just arrived in Stuttgart

Youngsters from the Peres Center for Peace (Israel), the Al Quds Association for Demcracy and Dialoge (Palestine), Espérance (Rwanda) and Spirit of Soccer (Cambodia) already in arrived in Stuttgart. They are part of the internationale KICKFAIR-Festival „With a ball through life“ that will take place in Stuttgart from the 30th of Juntil until the 2nd of July.

All mentioned organizations have contributed to the development of the didactical material „With a ball through life“. During the next days until the 30th of June they will work with youngsters from KICKFAIR in common Workshops with this material.

Three-month coordinator-exchange with the KICKFAIR Partner-Organizations from Argentina (Cre-Arte), Paraguay (CDI) and Chile (Chigol)

April 11 - 2011 I Since today, Fabián (Chile), Jorge (Paraguay) und Ezequiel (Argentinien) are with KICKFAIR in Germany. With their colleagues here within KICKFAIR, they are working on the further development of the common projects within the international learning cooperations of the partner organizations. The main focus is on the further development of the common school programme football-leraning-global. The international coordination team develops common contents fort he work with schools. This includes the elaboration of common Workshops on „Football and global learning“. These Workshops are being realized within the KICKFAIR project „Fußball verbindet“ in schools all over Germany. Following the exchange in Germany, 2 KICKFAIR coordinators will travel to Cre-Arte in Argentina and the CDI in Paraguay to continue the common work and give the Workshops there as well. Regular informations on the Workshops can be found under http://www.fussballverbindet-diewelt.org

The exchange is also part of the ASA Programme funded by the BMZ.

Football for Develpment Conference in Prag: KICKFAIR gives Workshops on Youth Leadershipthrough Football

March 30 - 2011 I From March 24th to 25th 2011, Experts in the field of Football and Development from all over the world met at the second football for development conference in Prague. After the first conference that had taken place in April 2010 in Vienna, the conference in Prag was the platform to go deeper into the topics and develop them further.

KICKFAIR had a central role in Prag. Next to the discussions on the FIFA worldchampionship 2010 in Südadrka, the conference focused on Youth Leadershipthrough football.. In the frame of two workshops on both days, KICKFAIR has introduced ist concept on Youth Leadership to all experts. With all participants and experts, KICKFAIR then worked on the challlenges and opportunties this concept offers on how to interlink football and Leadership in a sustainanble way.

More informations to the conference see www.footballfordevelopment.org

Robert Bosch chooses KICKFAIR to take part in their 150 year jubilee „The responsibles“

March 30 - 2011 I „Your Engagement conviced the Jury“, was the answer of the Robert Bosch foundation to KICKFAIR. On the occassion the 150 th anniversary of the founder and entrepreneur Robert Bosch, the foundation introduces initiatives and persons that give an positive example on active citizenship.

For the jubilee action, 250 persons/initiatives had been nominated. In March 2011 a Jury of well-known celebrities chose 150 to take part in that action.

More informations about the jubilee action „the responsbibles“ you will find under http://www.verantwortung-unternehmen.org

Participants of the project "Spielbetrieb" organized a tournament for trainees in Ostfildern

Sascha N (left), Tobias S.(center), Mathaios H. (right).

March 25 - 2011 I „I have realized what I am able to reach, now I see I have a positive future perspective“ says Michael Moger, 23 years old and since september 2010 participant in the project „SpielBetrieb“. He is one of the six young adult participants of the project, that organized a tournament last Thursday for trainees of various compagnies in Ostfildern. They have commonly prepared and realized everything necessary. With a high entuthiasm, they approached the compagnies to introduce their project and to explain the methode streetfootball. They did not only convince the training managers, but also the trainees themselves for their project.

They have fullfilled a mediation training and took over the responsibilty to guide the games and to mediate the teams before and after the games.

13 teams have taken part from different compagnies such as Schopf Maschinenbau, Julmi Haustechnik, Raisch Fliesenfachgeschäft, die Stadt Ostfildern, Bilz Werkzeugfabrik, Gehring Technologies und the Garp education center for trainees.

For the Jobcenter Esslingen and the local Youth work, both partners in the project, a best-practice example, how to find the strength of this youth and how to develop them.

KICKFAIR is partner of the city of Augsburg at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2011

KICKFAIR supports the preparation and the realization of the Peace Cup. The Peace Cup is part of the cultural frame program of the FIFA Women’s world Cup 2011 of Augsburg. Under the motto „City of Peace“, Augsburg has developed an exciting cultural program. One highlight within that program is the international football-peace-festival. The festival will take place from the 24th to the 26th of June in a special football stadium just being built up for that special occasion. Next to the participating teams from Augsburg, the city also invited teams and organizations from all over the world that advocate peace through football in their home countries. This will also include partner organizations from KICKFAIR such as the Peres Center für Peace (Israel), Espérance (Rwanda) and Spirit of Soccer (Cambodia). The festival will be played according to the rules of football3.

Two weeks before the festival, KICKFAIR will be working with youngsters from Augsburg and with Youth Leaders of the invited guest teams to get prepared for the festival. In the frame of several workshops, the youngsters from Augsburg will be introduced to the football3 method. At the same time, they will meet the youth leader representatives from the invited international organizations, their countries, cultures and the role of football in their project work at home.

Youngsters from Augsburg, that are interested in taking over more responsibility will be educated to mediators by KICKFAIR and integrated into whole realization of the Peace-Cup in Augsburg.

Job-seeking young adults from the Project SpielBetrieb organize a street football tournament for trainees in Ostfildern

On March 24, 2011, participants of the project “SpielBetrieb” organized a tournament for trainees and apprentices in Ostfildern, whereby trainees assisted in multiple planning, organizing, and implementation activities.

Participation in the tournament showed that trainees can and want to be involved. Businesses in Ostfildern were excited by the idea and supported the work of the “SpielBetriebers”. “We gladly gave our apprentices the afternoon off for such a practical project,” said a supervisor in Ostfildern.

The tournament took place at the old light rail depot “an der Halle” in Ostfildern. It began at 2:00 and ended around 5pm.

Sony Germany and Intel support KICKFAIR

As part of the entertainment campaign of Sony Germany and Intel, over the past few months the two companies have been calling on consumers to take part in an online game at www.wow-moment.de and do some good – for every participant that submits their “woow,” “yeah,” or “ahhh” face, a 5 Euro donation will be contributed to streetfootballworld and KICKFAIR by Sony Germany and Intel.

With these donations, SONY, streetfootballworld, and KICKFAIR support the project SpielBetrieb, to help unemployed youth improve their work opportunities by improving their communications skills.

SONY Europe to visit KICKFAIR in Ostfildern

KICKFAIR has been a part of the SONY Europe Leadership Programme since November 2010. Four SONY managers from around Europe are accompanying and mentoring KICKFAIR in further developing the organization and in improving the design of the project.

Since the first meeting in November 2010 in London, a regular exchange between the SONY group and KICKFAIR has taken place. On February 17, three of the four SONY managers visited the entire KICKFAIR team in Ostfildern to learn more about the content, work, and potential of the project, and to discuss further steps.

Box-Worldchampion Felix Sturm und Ex-Box Profi Axel Schulz visit KICKFORMORE

The 14th of February, Box-Worldchampion Felix Sturm und Ex-Box Profi Axel Schulz visited the KICKFAIR project KICKFORMORE in Ostfildern. Axel Schulz is Laureus friend and ambassador and such ambassador for KICKFORMORE. With the project visit, he wants to show, that social engagement is worthful.

For both, Felix and Sturm and Axel Schulz, it was a great opportunity to exchange with youngsters from the project and to play Straßenfußball with them.

Also in the boat was Christof Bolay, mayor of Ostfildern.

The visit will be shown on SAT 1 TV in the framework of Felix Sturms boxing match the 18th of February in Stuttgart.

KICKFORMORE is being funded by the Laureus Sport for Good Stiftung Deutschland.

Minister President Stefan Mappus invites KICKFAIR to new years reception of the government of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels

Brussels I January 26, 2011.  “KICKFAIR makes people happy.” Under this motto, representatives from business and politics experienced a playful evening at the new years reception of the state representation of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels. The KICKFAIR foosball table beckoned a small tournament to begin. At the quick shot timer, participants could see how hard they could kick the ball.

The stand was full of excitement, with long waiting lines. Even Minister President Stefan Mappus came over to kick the ball with full force into the goal. “A great opportunity to hammer the ball in,” was his comment. That this is not the aim of the project, but rather to use street soccer to show young people the right path was not unknown to him. It was therefore important to him to have KICKFAIR participate in the evening.

It was a great opportunity for many interesting conversations to take place, which will be continued with some of the representatives in the upcoming weeks.