April, 2022 - Fußball trifft Kultur – LitCam gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH

European U21 champion new ambassador for “Fußball trifft Kultur”

Initiated by LitCam gGmbH in 2007 and funded by the DFL Foundation since 2012, the integrative education program aims to use enthusiasm for soccer as a learning motivation to give children from disadvantaged neighborhoods access to language and culture.
At 20 locations across Germany, 32 program groups with children in grades 3 to 6 are supported in cooperation with local professional football clubs.
Participants receive 45 minutes of soccer training and 45 minutes of remedial lessons twice a week for at least one school year, usually with a focus on language development.
In addition, cultural events encourage a change of perspective.

Ridle Baku is delighted to be able to actively support this approach in the future as a nationwide ambassador for “Fußball trifft Kultur”:

“I want to help children who might have a harder time. When Karin Plötz from “Fußball trifft Kultur” approached me with the idea of supporting the program as an ambassador, I was immediately enthusiastic.
Combining the social power of soccer with remedial teaching – I think that’s great.
I would like to help as much as I can.”

In his role as ambassador for the program, Ridle Baku will act in particular as a role model for the children.
He will also be involved in shaping the content of the program.
As soon as the current Corona rules allow, he would like to support the program groups in the schools and the big “Fußball trifft Kultur” final tournament on site.
It is particularly important to him to promote soccer as a unifying, integrative element:

“Football has a unifying power. When you go out onto the pitch, it doesn’t matter where you come from. All that matters is the common goal. You have to learn to integrate into a group and deal with defeat. I think you learn a lot of social skills in team sports that also help you a lot off the pitch.”

To the interview with Ridle Baku

Copyright photo: Adidas

The Millerntor, Jan-Philipp Kalla and a whole lot of Pauli cult

Das Millerntor, Jan-Philipp Kalla und ganz viel Pauli-Kult

Our children from the Stadtteilschule am Hafen had an eventful Monday. As part of a stadium tour at Millterntor, they later went to the children’s press conference with Pauli legend and new FtK sponsor Jan-Philipp Kalla.

Like every Monday, the children from the “Fußball trifft Kultur” program at the Stadtteilschule am Hafen came to the training ground at Millterntor. On this April 11, however, there was no training for a change, instead youth football coach Marvin welcomed the children to a tour around the stadium. First they went to the parking lot of the guest bus and the media representatives and then through the tunnel to the visitors’ stands. The children were also able to see the visiting team’s dressing rooms. The players’ tunnel, which was illuminated in red for the children – just like at a home match – was particularly impressive.

The next surprise awaited them in the press room. They were welcomed by FC St. Pauli veteran Jan-Philipp Kalla, who played for the club from 2003 to 2020 and is the sponsor of the two “Fußball trifft Kultur” programs in Hamburg. Although not everyone knew him directly due to his – from the children’s point of view – advanced age, it didn’t stop the children from asking numerous questions. “When did you start playing soccer?”, “What position do you play?”, “How many goals have you scored?”, but they were also interested in his private life: “Do you have children?” or “How many girlfriends have you had?”. When Jan-Philipp told them that he owns a Smart car, most of the boys could hardly believe it. “Don’t you have another car?” followed as a prompt question. As far as the thickness of the combustion engine is concerned, Jan-Philipp Kalla is certainly not a bad role model compared to some of his (former) profile colleagues. This school year in particular, sustainability is on the agenda for the “Fußball trifft Kultur” program.

After this press conference at the latest, all FtK children now know their new godfather perhaps even better than some seasoned Pauli supporters. And although Jan-Philipp no longer plays for FC St. Pauli, he was able to win over numerous new young fans on this day. The children were particularly interested in the FtK-ClubChallenge 2022 which they can use for the creative design of their club presentation.

FtK meets Alte Försterei and Grischa Prömel

In Berlin-Köpenick warteten diese Woche zwei Highlights auf die Kinder der Zürich-Schule: Sie durften nicht nur das altehrwürdige Stadion an der alten Försterei besuchen, sondern hatten auch noch das besondere Vergnügen, an einer Kinder-Pressekonferenz mit Union-"Fußballgott" Grischa Prömel teilzunehmen.

24 Kinder aus dem „Fußball trifft Kultur“-Programm an der Zürich Schule in Neukölln machten sich letzten Dienstag, den 5. April, per S-Bahn und Straßenbahn zum Stadion an der Alten Försterei. Für viele war es das erste Mal, überhaupt in einem Stadion zu sein und für die allermeisten war es auch der erste Besuch im Stadion an der Alten Försterei. Umso erfreulicher war es, als ihnen plötzlich bei der Stadion-Ankunft FC Union-Cheftrainer Urs Fischer über den Weg lief, der sich bereitwillig mit den Kindern fotografieren ließ.

Direkt danach startete die Führung. Thomas Maier von der Stiftung des FC Union zeigte den Kindern erstmal am Eingang des Stadions die Statue der Pokalsieger von 1968, natürlich mit dem berechtigten Hinweis, dass die Unioner dieses Jahr noch den Gewinn des DFB-Pokals in Aussicht haben. Warum das Stadion an der Alten Försterei so heißt wie es heißt, konnten die Kinder nicht beantworten, aber Thomas Maier erklärte es ihnen ausführlich.

Später ging es weiter auf die Tribünen. Als eines der Kinder nach einer Karte für ein Union Spiel fragte, musste es Thomas Maier enttäuschen: „Der FC Union hat 11.000 Abonnenten, die natürlich immer ihre Karten bekommen. 2.200 Karten gehen an die Fans der Gästemannschaft und die restlichen Karten werden an die Mitglieder von FC Union Berlin verlost. 21.717 Menschen passen ins Stadion.“ Während des weiteren Rundgangs erfuhren die Kinder unter anderem, dass das Stadion von den Union-Fans selber mitgebaut wurde. Im Innern des Stadions konnten die Kids eine Loge besuchen und einen Blick von oben auf das Spielfeld werfen.

Two highlights awaited the children of the Zurich School in Berlin-Köpenick this week: not only were they able to visit the venerable stadium at the Alte Försterei, but they also had the special pleasure of taking part in a children’s press conference with Union “soccer god” Grischa Prömel.

24 children from the “Fußball trifft Kultur” program at the Zurich School in Neukölln took the S-Bahn and streetcar to the stadium at the Alte Försterei last Tuesday, April 5. For many it was the first time they had ever been to a stadium and for most of them it was also their first visit to the stadium at the Alte Försterei. So it was all the more pleasing when FC Union head coach Urs Fischer suddenly ran into them on arrival at the stadium and willingly allowed himself to be photographed with the children.

The tour started immediately afterwards. Thomas Maier from the FC Union Foundation first showed the children the statue of the 1968 cup winners at the entrance to the stadium, of course with the justified hint that the Unioners still have the prospect of winning the DFB Cup this year. The children couldn’t answer why the stadium at the Alte Försterei is called what it is, but Thomas Maier explained it to them in detail.

Later, they moved on to the stands. When one of the children asked for a ticket for a Union match, Thomas Maier had to disappoint him: “FC Union has 11,000 subscribers, who of course always get their tickets. 2,200 tickets go to fans of the visiting team and the remaining tickets are raffled off to members of FC Union Berlin. 21,717 people fit into the stadium.” During the rest of the tour, the children learned, among other things, that the stadium was co-built by the Union fans themselves. Inside the stadium, the kids were able to visit a box and take a look at the pitch from above.

Then it was off to the large event room, where the children were able to take their seats as if they were at a real press conference. The anticipation was great and the guest of honor was not long in coming: Grischa Prömel, “soccer god” and Union midfield ace, entered the room. With great journalistic interest, the children started straight away with their questions: “How old are you?”, “When did you start playing soccer?”, “Where did you play?”, “How much do you earn?”, “Do you have a favorite series?” and many more questions were put to Grischa Prömel.

For example, the children learned that Grischa was born in Stuttgart and used to play for Karlsruher SC. It is also interesting that Grischa doesn’t attach much importance to cars and therefore still drives the same one that his grandmother gave him for his 18th birthday. Grischa also revealed his favorite book: the biography of Andre Agassi “Open”. After more than 40 minutes of questions, Thomas Maier ended the children’s press conference and the children were of course able to get autographs. Grischa was even asked to sign anoraks after he had made sure that the child’s mother (apparently) didn’t mind.

After almost an hour, Grischa Prömel, who clearly enjoyed talking to the children, said goodbye. All in all, the children were able to get to know “their” club, FC Union Berlin, extensively on this day – exactly according to the motto of the FtK Club Challenge 2022. The children were very happy about the great experience and had a lot to talk about on the way back.