Atlanta and Stuttgart have cemented the bond between the two cities after launching an international youth exchange programme, in collaboration with ‘Soccer in the Streets’, the ‘Halle Foundation’, SAP, Mercedes-Benz U.S. and MHP Americas. The programme involves children and young people being given an opportunity to travel overseas, learn about different cultures and develop on a personal level – all through the beautiful game.
The project has already begun. As part of an initiative with Atlanta-based foundation Soccer in the Streets, 10 children were selected to spend a week in Stuttgart later this autumn. The kids involved can look forward to training sessions devised in line with VfB’s youth development guidelines, meeting VfB players of a similar age, playing matches themselves and taking part in cultural activities.
“The partnership with Stuttgart enables us to offer international and multicultural experiences – particularly for those who would otherwise have no access to such opportunities,” said Francisco Stenger, Community Partnerships Manager of Soccer in the Streets. “We don’t just want to offer free football; we want to create programmes that can bring about lasting change in young people’s lives.”
The trip to Stuttgart this autumn is set to be a particularly memorable one on a personal level for the 10 lucky participants. “At VfB, we’re convinced that football can bring people together across cultures and create opportunities that extend far beyond the pitch,” said Karsten Petry, VfB’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. “We look forward to welcoming the kids to Stuttgart and are confident that many more initiatives will follow.”
This latest exchange forms an important part of VfB’s international activities in the USA. Camps have already been held over the summer in Trenton, Mooresville, Lake Wylie, Warwick and Atlanta, with around 220 boys and girls taking part in the programmes.
Action-packed camps
The summer camps focused on the principles of VfB’s youth development approach, not to mention the simple joy of playing football. The youngsters got to work on their technical skills, shooting abilities and patterns of play by taking part in competitions and tournaments, while the so-called ‘VfB Olympiade’ – a competition involving a variety of activities – also kept participants entertained.
For the more ambitious youngsters, elite camps were held in Mooresville and Warwick. Under the motto ‘Mastering the Ball; Mastering the Opponent’, the kids worked on technique, their reading of the game and physical fitness. As well as individual feedback, performance assessments and guidance from the VfB coaches, the youngsters were able to work on developing personal skills such as responsibility, respect and teamwork.
