FC Barcelona and UNHCR
Published: Sept 8, 2018
Using Sport as a Tool for Social Transformation
The universal language of Sport provides us with the power to change, to transform people, attitudes and communities. At a time when the world is witnessing the highest levels of displaced people ever recorded, it is more important than ever that we harness the power of the Sport at the Service of Humanity movement to create positive change in the world.
A Partnership for Change
At the 2016 Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference, representatives from UNHCR and FC Barcelona had the opportunity to meet and discuss how the two organizations could work together to further the SSH movement. Inspired by the movement’s 6 Principles — joy, compassion, respect, enlightenment, love and balance — they have already taken action to make a difference to the lives of refugees, particularly children.
In honour of World Refugee Day (June 20, 2017), the UNHCR and FC Barcelona announced the #SignAndPass campaign, launched with the support of key players of the football club, including Lionel Messi and Neymar Junior.
Click here to watch the #SignAndPass video
The “Sign and Pass” Campaign is inspired by Barcelona’s football philosophy where one-touch, short passing between players has been a hallmark of their recent success. Supporters can digitally sign a football online and then pass it to their friends via social media. By signing the ball supporters add their name to UNHCR’s #WithRefugees petition, which calls on world governments and fellow citizens to make sure all refugees can have a safe place to live, receive an education and are able to work so they can provide for their families.
As a result of their discussions at the 2016 Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference, on June 13, 2017, these organizations also held an international forum to raise awareness of the situation of refugees around the world, with special attention to refugee children and how sport can help their integration and be a tool of positive social transformation.
The event, which was chaired by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and the President of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, aimed to rally support from civil society actors, including humanitarian and sport organizations, as well as members of the business, technology and culture sectors.
The FC Barcelona Foundation also announced the roll-out of the FutbolNet programme in refugee reception centres in Greece, Italy and Lebanon starting from July. The program uses sport to improve social skills, conflict prevention and conflict resolution among refugee children and adolescents, to enhance their emotional well-being and to foster their social inclusion in host countries.
A “Sports kit”, which was developed with the help of the FCB’s Innovation Hub, will also soon be tested in several field locations. It includes innovatively designed sports equipment and operating instructions that can be used in refugee sites all over the world, regardless of cultural, climatological and environmental considerations.
