Football as a means of communication

by parisos | 6 Apr 2021 | Social inclusion, Youth empowerment

I studied Sports Management at university because my life experiences showed me that sports has huge power to unite the world. In my university days, I got the opportunity to get involved with Eleven Campaign, which has the same goal as mine, to use sports as a tool to break down social barriers, celebrate diversity and promote equality. With Eleven Campaign I have taken the lead in several projects across the world aiming for social and welfare good. Now I am the Head of projects for Eleven Campaign and represent the youth for Peace and Sport.

• Your story:

  My story is simple. Due to my father's occupation, my family and I lived in many different countries, throughout my childhood. The only language I was fluent in was football as I couldn't speak the local language nor English, plus I had dyslexia that made things more difficult. Football gave me the power to communicate with kids my age and make friends despite the huge language barriers. It made me feel a part of the community even though differences in culture. This made me realize the enormous power that sports have and how they can be used as a tool for positive impact.

• Country List: Switzerland