Foundation
"leuchte auf" finances inclusive football tournament
For the third time, the AWO subdistrict of Ennepe-Ruhr e.V. has held its so-called "AWO-Brücken-Fußballturnier". The event is an inclusive football tournament for both children and adults. The BVB foundation "leuchte auf" has made a donation of EUR 3,000 towards the event, having previously contributed towards the one held in World Cup year 2014 too.
The tournament, which was played in ideal football weather, was in its third edition following World Cup year 2014 and European Championships year 2016. Fourteen teams containing 200 children, youths and adults with and without disabilities took part. Alongside the hosts Gevelsberg Football Club, there were once again a range of institutions taking part. Among them were the local primary school and the neighbouring nursery, as well as the Gevelsberg AWO Workshop Association, the AWO Residence for People with Disabilities and the AWO Integration Nursery. Once again, the town of Gevelsberg supported the organisation of the event.
"It is very remarkable to see the passion the persons responsible at the AWO are showing to help the tournament succeed. Although in principle it is designed to be an inclusive football tournament, in fact it actually resembles a district festival whereby the disabilities of the participants and the spectators have no bearing. A perfect example of inclusion in practise," said Thomas Klein, a "leuchte auf" employee during a visit to the tournament.
The topic of inclusion − in other words, the integration of people with disabilities into everyday life in society − is an important component of the "diversity" pillar at the BVB foundation. For the umpteenth time, sports showed itself to be an excellent means of driving this process forward.
Alongside inclusion projects that are financially supported by "leuchte auf", the BVB foundation additionally places focus on the issue at Bundesliga home games. As a result of this emphasis by "leuchte auf", matchday mascots with disabilities have been welcomed at the stadium for four years now.
Info on "leuchte auf" can be found at: