Sports Academy Project

Globably the world is awakening to the power of community sports and The Proton Foundation is looking to develop a new sports academy initiative as a means of assisting churches in Romania to bring transformation to their communities. Having been inspired by the Go Sisters! Project in Zambia, which is supported by UK Sport, and FIFA'S football for Hope, the Proton Foundation, working in partnership with Sport in Action, is looking to encourage and support the introduction of sports programmes in Romania.

WHY SPORTS?

The Sports Academy idea is the brain child of Steve Wright, Sports Development Officer at Durham University and Director of Sport in Action. Steve approached the Proton Foundation with a vision to see sports being used to bring community transformation, not only by offering sports programmes, but also by providing advice and training on healthy eating and nutrition.

Steve and Jude (an occupational therapist) are members of the Xcel Church in Newton Aycliffe, UK, who also partner with Next Level International. Steve told us, "Alongside creating a vibrant and active community through sport, we aim to create a sustainable platform for healthy role models and education. We are hoping to use this influence to provide education on healthy lifestyles including nutrition and introduce Christian principles of respect for each other, along with raising the profile of the local church within the community."

Working in partnership, the Proton Foundation and Sport in Action, hope to train and mobilise young people by harnessing their passion for sport in a positive way to develop leadership skills in themselves and then to empower those around them with the same. As a result of directed and harnessed enthusiasm and zeal many will be drawn together, relationships will form, invaluable skills and experience will be gained and momentum in young lives created for big futures of influence embraced with confidence.

WHY ROMANIA?

Romania is a nation facing a huge challenge in overcoming poverty. Nearly 50 years of communist rule, which came to an end in 1989 with the end of Nicolae Ceauşescu’s 25 year dictatorial reign, left the nation nearly $10 Billion in debt. It was the inability of the economy to sustain this debt that led to the uprising that would see Ceauşescu’s reign brought to an end. Since then a democratic government has existed yet the systems or culture necessary to bring about prosperity have not been in place and at the end of 2008 Romania was ranked second from bottom in Europe for the percentage of the population living below the poverty line. Romania is a nation in need of a new generation to rise up in confidence, leadership and aspiration for a brighter future and Sports Academies hold the potential to impart this culture.

To begin this journey Steve and a small team from the Proton Foundation are visiting Romania in May, in order to establish a possible pilot project. Through working with our Romania partners at NLI within a fortnight of highlighting the opportunity, four churches in Romania expressed a desire to be the first to pilot this exciting and powerful new ministry in their community. Through our connections and relationships with Christian organisations, we are also looking to develop a partnership with Teen Challenge in Bucharest, who are already some way down the track in developing and delivering sports to their residents.

After deciding the program to be offered and the facilities to be used the focus will move to training and equipping leaders and volunteers with accredited qualifications. Next relationships will be sought with existing sporting organisations in order to co-operate with existing leagues and competitions. As the size of involvement and capacity of the Academies increases we aim to develop a fully sustainable model where all equipment, training and facilitation of the Academies are funded through participation fees.

HOW CAN YOU HELP TO GET THIS NEW INITIATIVE OFF THE GROUND?   This pilot project is being developed under the banner of the Proton Development Fund. Setup finances are looking to be raised to provide the initial training for coaches along with providing vital sports equipment in order to launch new sports programmes in communities. We are offering sponsorship opportunities for companies and individuals with a passion for sports. Steve Wright and his wife Jude are personally committed to the project and as a result will be undertaking a four day sponsorsed expedition up the 14,000ft Machu Picchu mountain in Peru in June with all proceeds going to launch the first pilot projects.

If you would like to get involved in supporting this initiative, there are several way you can partner with the project:

1. Sponsor Steve & Jude's trek in Peru
2. make a financial donation to the Proton Development Fund
3. donate sports equipment to the pilot project
4. company sponsorship and partnership

To express interest in participating in this project or for more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Proton's Project Development Assistant.