Common Ground - Common Goal

Play, Lead, Create

Not all children and adolescents in Germany have the same opportunities for personal development and active participation in society. The inequalities and social exclusion that these young people face have been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.

Led by KICKFAIR, the Common Ground project is addressing these challenges by providing young people most affected by the pandemic with valuable social and learning experiences.

A Common Ground is a safe space consisting of a whole concept of quality education built around a street football pitch and youth organising office where young people can meet, have positive social experiences and develop their potential - and contribute to social change.

As the co-creators of all activities, young people’s role and perception shift from beneficiaries to real experts and decision makers, taking on an active role in expanding their learning and changing their individual life circumstances for the better. The methodology underlying the programmes places the personal development of young people and their interaction as an open democratic community at the centre of transformation.

The approach of Common Ground is based on KICKFAIR’s educational concept with the structural integration of individual elements in schools and their curriculum and seeks to achieve positive changes, both on an individual level and on a societal level.

The Goal

A society where every young person has equal opportunities to play, lead, and create positive change for themselves and their communities.

The Strategy

Using street football to enable young people to develop skills and abilities they need to develop positive life perspectives and find their place in society.

How it Works

The project uses a holistic football-based educational model and establishes Common Grounds enabling young people to play, lead and co-create society.

Challenge

Young people in Germany have unequal opportunities to develop, realise their potential, and to live a happy life. This can result in:

Unhealthy behaviour

Frustration, resignation, lack of self-esteem and self-confidence among youth, leading to destructive coping strategies.

Undeveloped potential

Loss of talents and potentials needed in all sectors.

Social Exclusion

Threat of our societal cohesion (locally and globally).

Solution

Work against mechanisms and dynamics that lead to unequal opportunities threatening our future society.

New learning opportunities

Transforming the system of learning and foster quality education for all.

Youth become experts

Promoting new leadership models understanding youth as experts.

Enabling equal opportunities

Re-writing narratives about marginalised youth and redefining key indicators for success.

Impact

Young people are able to unfold their potential and co-create social transformation in their surroundings to promote equal future perspectives for all.

Supportive learning environment developed

The project enables positive learning environment for young people to develop and enfold potential.

Young people feel belonging and purpose

Young people find belonging through active co-creation of living surrounding and develop personally and in social interaction.

Society's perception of youth is positive

Equal opportunities and changed perspectives for youth and society to live a happy life.