Movement-Based Intervention Wins Laureus Sport for Good Award

May 7, 2023

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Who would’ve thought that War Child would share the stage with all-time sporting greats like Lionel Messi and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce? Yet, as we pick up the prestigious Laureus Sport for Good Award, it will be all eyes on TeamUp - our flagship psychosocial support intervention for children affected by conflict…

Sport for Good

The internationally acclaimed award celebrates social initiatives which have made a significant contribution to transforming the lives of young people through sport.

TeamUp - a play and movement-based intervention developed by Save the Children, UNICEF the Netherlands and War Child - will be announced as the winner at a star-studded ceremony in Paris tomorrow.

As we prepare to share the stage with all-time sporting greats, we are particularly humbled by the other inspirational organisations in the Sport For Good category.

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Children at the centre

War Child Holland CEO Ramin Shahzamani will collect the award alongside Birgit van Delft, Programme Director for TeamUp. “Everything we do is for children”, says Shahzamani. “Therefore, we would like to dedicate this award to them - to the 230 million children growing up with the consequences of war and conflict.”

TeamUp was developed in the Netherlands in response to the 2015 refugee influx, quickly gaining a global presence. The tried and tested methodology is currently active in 26 countries everywhere from the Middle East to Africa with the support of expert partners.

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War Child Receives The Award

“Everything we do is for children. Therefore, we would like to dedicate this award to them - to the 230 million children growing up with the consequences of war and conflict."
War Child Holland CEO, Ramin Shahzamani

Dedicated network of global facilitators

South Sudan is one example. Thanks also to our dedicated network of TeamUp facilitators, we have been able to rapidly expand our activities across the country.

“We want children to be children again. That’s why we have TeamUp. When I run the sessions I see how the environment; the energy positively impacts the children."
Ezekiel, a local TeamUp trainer and facilitator
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TeamUp has changed the life of 12-year-old Adit irreversibly

“Here in South Sudan we have so many challenges”, says Ezekiel, a local TeamUp trainer and facilitator. “We experience blood, war, disaster - man-made and natural. This affects children physically but also mentally.”

“We want children to be children again”, he continues with conviction. “That’s why we have TeamUp. When I run the sessions I see how the environment; the energy positively impacts the children. After the session we collect data to monitor their progress.

“We also train others to be facilitators, so that we can expand and reach many more children.”