Help us unleash the power of Sport in European Communities

The Proton Foundation, in partnership with Sport in Action, are exploring the opportunity of developing new Sports Academies in Europe.

Globally the world is awakening to the power of sport. We have been inspired by the Go Sisters! IDS (International Development in Sports) Project in Zambia supported by UK Sport who have been training young girl leaders to coach both sporting ability and leadership skills to girls who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to develop such skills in a culture that is counter to female empowerment. Through offering equipment and training, access to sport has been made available and it has been a key development tool in providing opportunities for young people that would not have existed before. FIFA's football for Hope, also shows us the benefit and power of community sports.

In the same way, as part of Proton's desire to see community transformation, Sport in Action hope to train and mobilise young people by harnessing their passion for sport in a positive way to develop leadership skills in themselves and then to empower those around them. As a result of directed and harnessed enthusiasm and zeal, many will be drawn together, relationships will form, invaluable skills and experience will be gained and momentum in young lives created for big futures of influence embraced with confidence.

Alongside creating a vibrant and active community through sport, a platform is created for healthy role models and education. We are hoping to use this influence to provide education on healthy lifestyles including nutrition, self-respect and respecting one another.

The Sports Academies idea is the brain child of Steve Wright, Sports Development Officer at Durham University and Director of Sport in Action, who approached the Proton Foundation to assist in setting up a sustainable model for implementation and growth. Focussing initially on Romania and working with our networks in that nation within a fortnight four community organisations expressed desire to be the first to introduce this exciting and powerful new project into their community.

WHY ROMANIA?

Romania is a nation facing a huge challenge in overcoming poverty. Nearly 50 years of communist rule, which came to an end in 1989 with the end of Nicolae Ceauşescu’s 25 year dictatorial reign, left the nation nearly $10 Billion in debt. It was the inability of the economy to sustain this debt that led to the uprising that would see Ceauşescu’s reign brought to an end. Since then a democratic government has existed yet the systems or culture necessary to bring about prosperity have not been in place and at the end of 2008 Romania was ranked second from bottom in Europe for the percentage of the population living below the poverty line. Romania is a nation in need of a new generation to rise up in confidence, leadership and aspiration for a brighter future and Sports Academies hold the potential to impart this culture.

To begin this journey we are researching each individual area for opportunities to best engage with communities to enable easy access to sports provision. After deciding the program to be offered and the facilities to be used, the focus will move to training and equipping community volunteers with accredited qualifications. Next relationships will be sought with existing sporting organisations to establish leagues and competitions. Starting small but thinking big, as involvement and capacity increases our vision is to develop a fully sustainable social enterprise model.

To express interest in participating in this project or for more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact the Proton Foundation's Project Development Assistant Aidan Roberts: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We are excited about the transformation that will take place in communities through unleashing the power of Sport!