The Danish organization Cross Cultures Project Association (CCPA) uses grassroots sports as a tool for social cohesion in society and post-conflict reconciliation. In 1998 they introduced the Open Fun Football Schools program in the war torn Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Open Fun Football Schools project is organized by CCPA in cooperation with the Football Association of Norway (NFF) The project has developed into a broad Nordic cooperation, which so far involves larger regional operations in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Moldova and the Middle East. Furthermore, CCPA has been UEFA Charity Partner since 2002. In 2009 they received the Sport for Peace Award at the Beyond Sport Awards.
The Open Fun football Schools is directed towards supporting the development of civil society and the strength of the project is to be found in its ability to generate social capital; strengthen relations between people and build community platforms engaging a wide scope of relevant stakeholders.
This program concentrates on bringing children from war zones together through football. In this way grassroots sport creates a “space” that is not politically contaminated. “Football constitutes a universal language, which can be used by everyone. It is a language of fun, enjoyment and team spirit that derive from the game” (CEO Anders Levinsen). Football is emotions and, therefore, football can function as a “driver” that unites people across cultural or religious differences. It is a new and joyful way of playing football, giving participants the chance to gain some new experiences. It is more important that children learn that playing football is “fun”.
Famous quotes containing the words open, fun, football and/or schools:
“Technological change defines the horizon of our material world as it shapes the limiting conditions of what is possible and what is barely imaginable. It erodes ... assumptions about the nature of our reality, the “pattern” in which we dwell, and lays open new choices.”
—Shoshana Zuboff (b. 1951)
“There is the fear, common to all English-only speakers, that the chief purpose of foreign languages is to make fun of us. Otherwise, you know, why not just come out and say it?”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)
“In football they measure forty-yard sprints. Nobody runs forty yards in basketball. Maybe you run the ninety-four feet of the court; then you stop, not on a dime, but on Miss Liberty’s torch. In football you run over somebody’s face.”
—Donald Hall (b. 1928)
“The schools begin with what they call the elements, and where do they end?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)