Our FIRE project is coming to an end

Launched in 2019, the FIRE project (Football Including REfugees) falls within the ambitions of the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 Program. It aims to meet three of its main objectives: to promote social inclusion and integration, to combat racism and xenophobia while promoting gender equality, and to move towards more sports activities through physical education programs.

Within this framework, our partners have created a freely accessible MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) which is available since May 10, 2021. It has been specially designed for grassroots football clubs and local organizations who seek some support and guidance to implement an initiative, or program, which strives to include refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers. ESSCA School of Management has played a key role in it.

After two years and a half of concrete collaboration, on June 3, 2021, the final conference of the FIRE project will take place online. This will be an opportunity to look back on the achievements made during the project, to talk about the inclusion of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers through the promotion of football, and to discuss lessons learned with the different partners. During this first round table, all of them will take the floor to give their testimonies about the project and its implementation.

Other topics, such as refugees, inclusion and sport will also be discussed during a second-round table with European experts and stakeholders. This will be an opportunity for our guests to talk about their role in the promotion of sport, their involvement in certain programs, or to address some current issues such as racism.

We will be honored to welcome Floor Van Houdt, Head of Unit, Sport Unit, European Commission; Nicolas Brass, Senior External Engagement Coordinator at UNHCR; Marco Martiniello, Director of Research at the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FRS-FNRS) and Director of CEDEM (Centre d’Etudes de l’Ethnicité et des Migrations) at the University of Liege; and Saska Benedic Tomat, Head of Project and IRTS Platform representative, ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association).

The conference will be closed by the intervention of Benjamin Renauld in charge of the campaign of the Royal Europa Kraainem Football Club, “We Welcome Young Refugees”.

To participate in the event :