EFDN Staff Exchanges are Back!

EFDN Staff Exchanges are Back!

The first EFDN Staff Exchanges in two years due to the pandemic. It took place in Razgrad, Bulgaria, hosted by Ludogorets and it welcomed two staff members per organization (EFDN, Ludogorets, Excelsior Foundation, Valerenga, Shakhtar Social, Inter Campus, Maccabi Netanya and KAA Gent). The main topic for this exchange was Life skills through football, in which all the partners involved could share their best practices, challenges and brainstorm together to create further pan European projects focused on this topic.

The sessions were spread across the week, and included presentations about the overall work the foundations do, where everyone learned more about the context and reach of each foundation and club. At a later stage, all the staff involved presented in detail the projects they deliver with their communities and abroad focused on life skills through football. Additionally, all project partners had the opportunity to present practical sessions both inside the classroom and on the field. Each partner chose different activities that they use within their projects and showcased these activities with the rest of the staff. These activities were inspirational to the staff, who could not only experience them from the participant point of view, but also asked questions and learn further about the benefits of these activities and how to implement them with their own projects.

Additionally, the participants enjoyed some informal networking and learning from each other at the different side events, and also had the chance to visit the facilities at Ludogorets, including the Huvepharma Arena and the training ground from the club, where all the sessions took place. Our international staff enjoyed the stadium visit and met the eagle and eagle carer. Ludogorets, as a host, had the opportunity to show the traveling staff what they do at their club, not only in the training field but also in the classroom. All staff was welcome to join the sessions with the participants from Ludogorets, which was an enriching experience for staff and children.

The EFDN Staff exchanges offer a great opportunity for EFDN Members to connect and learn from each other. Indeed, Jamil, one of our EFDN Staff exchange participants coming from Oslo on behalf of Valerenga, was once a participant of the Young Leaders programme. This programme is one of the different projects that Julie runs at Valerenga. Both Jamil and Julie were present in Razgrad as staff, which shows how powerful the work of our football foundations can be to help children and youth develop, offering them further possibilities to continue their careers helping the communities where they grew up thanks to projects involving life skills through football.