When Communities In Paris Unite to Tackle Poverty and Inequality, Everyone Wins
Sport for Good Paris, a place-based community sports coalition which empowers leaders in the community to use sport to drive change, launched today in the French capital at a celebration event in La Courneuve.
Sport for Good Paris uses sport to support young people in the La Courneuve and Paris 18 regions of the city, areas with high levels of poverty, inequality and social exclusion. As opposed to a traditional funding method, the Sport for Good City model sees the value in empowering the core community leaders to drive change.
Joining community leaders at the Sport for Good Paris launch event were delegates from local City Halls and prefectures and Laureus Ambassadors Lisa Zimouche and Mansour Bahrami. Freestyle footballer Lisa and former tennis professional Mansour are both residents of the city and understand the positive role sport can play in transforming young lives.
Sport for Good Paris is initially funding and uniting eleven community organisations to work towards a common goal in using sport to change young lives: Les Enfants de la Goutte d’or, Lepic Populaire, Socios Solidaires, Yarale, Espoir 18, La Fabrique Royale, Orphanco, Planet Citizens, The “Louise Michel” primary school, Generation Taekwondo 93 and The Flash De La Courneuve.
Funds were also made available via the Sport for Good Response Fund launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Seven organisations benefited from this grant: The Centre Social et Culturel Rosa Parks, Paris Basket 18, Académie Football Paris 18, Ladies and Basketball, Espoir 18, Orphanco, Tennis Club Courneuvien and Basket Club Courneuvien.
Following introductory speeches, Lisa and Mansour had an opportunity to experience Sport for Good Paris in action through their own sports via small sided football activities and tennis with programme participants.
Sport for Good Paris aims to be an example of diversity, social cohesion, of working together and using sport to increase the integration, employment and education opportunities for young people. Young women and girls will be key players in this change
Laureus Ambassador Lisa Zimouche, said: “I joined the Laureus Family a year ago during the Covid-19 pandemic so I’m excited to have had my first experience of the inspirational work of Laureus here in Paris. Sport breaks down barriers and brings people together, and Sport for Good Paris is a great example of this. I’m proud to call Paris home, and I’m proud to see the work that communities in La Courneuve and Paris 18 are leading, using sport to improve social integration.”
Laureus Ambassador Mansour Bahrami, said: “Sport gave me an opportunity to change my life for the better here in Paris, so it means a lot to me to learn about the work Sport for Good Paris is doing in these communities, uniting communities and improving the lives of young people. Like everyone, the young people in these communities have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. It's wonderful to see them working together, driving the change they want to see in their communities.”
Since 2000, Laureus Sport for Good has reached and help change the lives of more than 6 million children and young people. Laureus Sport for Good currently supports more than 250 programmes in over 45 countries that use the power of sport to transform lives.
