Today we celebrate the Europe Day
Annually, on May 9th, we honour the Europe Day as a day of peace and unity in Europe.
This day marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration’ that set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations insupportable. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of the European Union that unites all the European countries together.
All the projects, initiated by EFDN, are co-funded by the European Union. More information about some of the EFDN’s projects can be found below.
SPECIAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The EFDN Special Champions League is a new project of EFDN that provides a safe, inclusive, and active environment where young people over 15 years old with an intellectual disability can come together and play football at a level they are all comfortable with. EFDN organizes 2 to 4 European Football Festivals per year that are hosted by different EFDN members throughout the year. The tournaments are non-competitive and a way to promote greater social inclusion and acceptance of disability football within European football clubs and the wider European population.
Through football, EFDN wants to get more young people with intellectual disabilities physically and socially active in their communities and increase integration and inclusion within society. The EFDN Special Champions League has been shaped in line with the Special Olympics philosophy, and it will provide opportunities for participants to improve their physical health, increase their confidence, meet new people, learn about others, and establish social bonds. The Special Champions League is co-funded by Erasmus+.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Community Champions League is an EFDN project in partnership with nine community-engaged football clubs from the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Norway, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium and Germany. NAC Breda, Feyenoord, Aberdeen FC, Chelsea FC, Club Brugge, SV Werder Bremen, Vålerenga Fotball, Ferencvarosi TC and SL Benfica deliver the Pan-European programme in collaboration with EFDN.
The Community Champions League is a social street football competition organised locally in nine cities in eight different European countries, where the participating teams can win more points through Fair-Play, Fair Support and volunteering in community activities than by winning their street football matches.
With the aim of promoting social integration through sport, the Community Champions League provides the opportunity for people from different cultures to come together to build relationships and friendships while breaking down barriers through the prevention of violence, racism and intolerance in grassroots sports and their communities.
WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The Walking Football League aims to deliver health-enhancing physical activity to people over the age of 50 years old, as well as provide opportunities to increase social inclusion levels, allowing them to lead a physically and socially active lifestyle in their European community. The Walking Football League will further develop Walking Football as a sustainable sport in Europe and raise the profile of the game.
This Walking Football League project will not only bring together nine community-engaged football clubs to deliver a programme that will increase physical activity levels and improve social cohesion and inclusion for people over the age of 50 years old, it will also be the foundation to establish the new sport of Walking Football as a truly unique sport that is here to stay! The European Walking Football League will provide the opportunity for participants to take part in two European Walking Football League events per year, where they get to travel and compete against the other clubs.
The project will provide participants with the opportunity to travel, socialise with people of a similar age, and allow them to participate in physical activity in a relaxed and social environment. The project aims to assist in the development of long-lasting friendships and help to increase the confidence of those who participate.
