Initiated by LitCam gGmbH in 2007 and funded by the DFL Foundation since 2012, the integrative education program aims to use enthusiasm for soccer as a learning motivation to give children from disadvantaged neighborhoods access to language and culture.
At 20 locations across Germany, 32 program groups with children in grades 3 to 6 are supported in cooperation with local professional football clubs.
Participants receive 45 minutes of soccer training and 45 minutes of remedial lessons twice a week for at least one school year, usually with a focus on language development.
In addition, cultural events encourage a change of perspective.
Ridle Baku is delighted to be able to actively support this approach in the future as a nationwide ambassador for “Fußball trifft Kultur”:
“I want to help children who might have a harder time. When Karin Plötz from “Fußball trifft Kultur” approached me with the idea of supporting the program as an ambassador, I was immediately enthusiastic.
Combining the social power of soccer with remedial teaching – I think that’s great.
I would like to help as much as I can.”
In his role as ambassador for the program, Ridle Baku will act in particular as a role model for the children.
He will also be involved in shaping the content of the program.
As soon as the current Corona rules allow, he would like to support the program groups in the schools and the big “Fußball trifft Kultur” final tournament on site.
It is particularly important to him to promote soccer as a unifying, integrative element:
“Football has a unifying power. When you go out onto the pitch, it doesn’t matter where you come from. All that matters is the common goal. You have to learn to integrate into a group and deal with defeat. I think you learn a lot of social skills in team sports that also help you a lot off the pitch.”
Copyright photo: Adidas
By LitCam
