How we started
Following their meeting in March 2022 at Ecolint, Paula and Sarah decided to push ahead with their vision of uniting teenagers from diverse backgrounds through the game of football.
Students from London contacted students from Geneva and together they constructed the foundation for the charity, FOOTBALL4iMPACT. By combining football with activities related to the game, such as mental health workshops and coaching sessions, the students realised that their work would achieve the objectives of promoting friendship and knowledge through sport.
1st Get together
London: October 2022
To launch the first phase of the project, Paul Canoville (Chelsea FC), Gary Stannet (Rio Ferdinand Foundation), and Michael Wallace (KickOff@3) generously contributed ideas and offered valuable expertise to the student founders.
Hackney Council facilitated the use of Hackney Marshes to enable football games and training sessions for the teenagers from London and Geneva.
To help develop life skills related to football, Yolanda Lear (The Undefeated Mind) delivered a seminar on mental health to the students. This was followed by a financial literacy workshop conducted by Jean-Francois Andrade and Egon Vorfeld, members of the wealth management team at Forum Finance Group.
2nd Get together
Geneva: March/ April 2023
Building on the success of the London event, a second meeting was held in Geneva, organised by students from The International School of Geneva (Ecolint). The event received extensive support from companies, parents, and teachers.The Geneva Marriott Hotel partially sponsored the accommodation, while EasyJet provided 20 discounted tickets. Ecolint offered its training facilities and referees for the football matches, and Swiss families kindly provided meals for approximately 50 participants over five days.
Dr. Mecky McNeil (Health First) conducted a Mental Health First Aid course, and Charles-Henri de Marignac (Forum Finance Group) led a Financial Literacy workshop. Marta Alcocer (IATA) also hosted a session on Social Media branding. UEFA generously offered a tour of their headquarters and donated tickets for the UEFA Youth League semi-finals. To further extend Swiss hospitality, luxury watchmaker Hublot provided the students with an exclusive factory tour during which Trae Coyle and Archie Brown facilitated the prize-giving ceremony for the 11 aside tournament team winners.
3rd Get together
Lisbon: March 2024
The idea to expand FOOTBALL4iMPACT internationally came from a desire to bring together a new group of young people and offer them the chance to engage with the students from London in a different setting. Portugal, with its deep-rooted football culture, presented the perfect backdrop for this next phase. The passion for the sport is particularly intense in Lisbon, the country’s capital, where football is more than just a game – it's a way of life.
In Lisbon, we established connections with students at the United Lisbon International School. Together, students from London, Lisbon, and Geneva collaborated on fundraising efforts to make the third phase of the project a reality, uniting their efforts across borders and cultures.
Eight girls from London joined four boys from Geneva and eight boys from Lisbon to participate in a diverse range of activities, including a graffiti workshop and sightseeing around the city. The students also took part in football match play, toured the iconic Benfica stadium, and attended a thrilling Benfica match.
Florian Penneveyre delivered an inspiring talk about his transition from Premier League player to successful entrepreneur, sharing insights from his remarkable journey. Additionally, Fouad Hashem led an engaging and informative workshop on effective financial management, equipping students with valuable skills for the future.
4th Get together
London: November 2024
Phase 4 brought together twelve boys from Geneva and eight from Lisbon for a return trip to London, where they joined 15 boys from the West Ham Foundation. With support from UEFA and Gatorade, the students collaborated both on and off the pitch, taking part in match play, tournaments, and training sessions led by West Ham officials. They also toured the iconic West Ham stadium and attended a thrilling Premier League match between West Ham and Everton.
Ryan Gordon delivered an engaging workshop on the importance of maintaining both a healthy body and mind, while Fouad Hashem returned to offer another insightful session on the crucial topic of financial responsibility.