"Moved by experience" - Stefanie Reischmann, FC Ingolstadt soccer player, on her soccer camp in Zambia
In a heartwarming display of sports diplomacy, Stefanie Reischmann, a midfielder for the FC Ingolstadt women's second division team, recently embarked on a life-changing journey to Zambia. The trip was part of a collaboration with the non-profit organisation "We Football," which focuses on providing football training, facilities, and equipment for children living in difficult and impoverished circumstances in Africa.
Reischmann and a group of former Bayern players visited a school built by "We Football" and participated in classes. The children were overjoyed to receive used football boots that Reischmann and the team had brought. The football matches that followed were a highlight for the young Zambian players and the locals, many of whom had never met Europeans before.
The game of "Europe against Africa" was particularly memorable, with a large crowd in attendance. Reischmann also expressed gratitude for the life she leads at home after the experience in Zambia. She was moved by a moment when 50 children ran towards them beaming upon their arrival.
The football camp also included activities beyond football, such as visits to schools, disability centres, and farming. Reischmann brought clothing, football equipment, and balls for the Zambian children. After her experience, Reischmann finds the NGO project "We Football" more important than ever and wishes for the organization to become more known and for more people to support it, either personally or with a donation.
Though specific details about "We Football's" initiatives in Zambia are not widely available, sports organizations in Africa often focus on promoting sports as a means to empower youth, improve health, and build communities. By providing opportunities for young people to engage in sports, these organizations help build skills, confidence, and a sense of community. They also use sports as a tool to encourage healthy lifestyles and serve as a platform for dialogue and development.
If "We Football" follows a similar model, their mission could involve using football as a tool for community development and youth empowerment. To learn more about the NPO project "We Football" and how you can support their work, visit their website at https://www.wefootball.org/.
However, Reischmann's journey also highlighted the stark contrast between the privileged life she leads at home and the challenges faced by children in Zambia. Upon leaving the protected area, she witnessed children with bloated bellies from hunger in the slums, a harsh reminder of the vast disparity between developed and developing nations.
Despite these challenges, Reischmann's experience in Zambia has left a lasting impact on her, and she continues to advocate for the importance of organisations like "We Football" in empowering children and building stronger, more equitable communities.
The children were thrilled to play soccer, a game they had heard much about from their older siblings, during the football matches that followed. Stefanie Reischmann, moved by the passion for sports among the Zambian children, deemed the soccer training, facilities, and equipment provided by the NGO "We Football" to be more crucial than ever.
