After Rotterdam, London, Edinburgh, Bremen and Nagalama (Uganda), it is time for Budapest. Within the FAIRPLAY project of Erasmus University, adolescents get the opportunity to work on their resilience during football training. Assistant Professor Brian P. Godor: "What is special about the start in Budapest is that we also reach adolescents from the Roma community, who struggle with extra challenges. In addition, it provides a unique social perspective within our research."
How is it that FAIRPLAY started in Budapest?
Brian: "Within the FAIRPLAY project, we work together with the social departments of some large football clubs, such as Inter Campus of Inter Milan. Inter Campus has the ambition to roll out our resilience programme in 39 countries around the world. Due to corona, the plans did not get off the ground last year, but they did succeed in Hungary. With budget from Erasmus+, we can finance this sub-project."
Zoli, Inter Campus Hungary Coach: “Participating in this project is very challenging. We have the possibility to understand, evaluate and improve our work and its impact on children. Applying the concept of resilience to our educational and sporting methodology is something relatively new for us, but since the beginning of this journey we have understood that it is perfectly in line with our approach and our idea of inclusive football”.
Why is it important that children from the Roma community follow this programme?
Brian: "First of all, of course, for the same reason that applies to all other children: they build up resilience to cope better with setbacks. Secondly, these adolescents live outside of mainstream society, and through football, they can better integrate. The adolescents from the Roma community will follow this programme together with other young people from Hungary."
Dani, Inter Campus Hungary Coach: “What we try to do with Inter Campus is to promote and foster the social inclusion of these children of the Roma community, almost always excluded from Hungarian society. In this regard, sport is an extraordinary tool. As local coaches we feel a big responsibility towards children, families and the entire community. That’s the reason why we are proud to take part in this research, it allows us to understand our criticalities and how to improve”.
When and with how many children will this project start in Budapest?
Brian: "The coaches and youth workers who play a role in this programme have already been trained. In the coming weeks, they will implement what they have learned in training for the adolescents. In total, 90 children in Budapest participate in this programme, including a control group. The adolescents will follow 20 weeks of training."
Contributing to an inclusive society
Brian: "The FAIRPLAY project is nicely in line with Erasmus University Rotterdam's impact ambition. The project contributes to an inclusive society by providing opportunities to young people from minorities."
Brian P. Godor is theme leader of Resilient Cities and Citizens within the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens.
Vital Cities and Citizens
With the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens (VCC) Erasmus University Rotterdam wants to help improve the quality of life in cities. In vital cities, the population can achieve their life goals through education, useful work and participation in public life. The vital city is a platform for creativity and diversity, a safe meeting place for different social groups. The researchers involved focus on one of the four sub-themes:
• Inclusive Cities and Diversity
• Resilient Cities and People
• Smart Cities and Communities
• Sustainable and Just Cities
VCC is a collaboration between Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) and International Institute of Social Studies (ISS).
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