Sports clubs in Essen join forces: "Committed to preventing this issue"
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Hanging out at Villa Hügel by Baldeneysee, it was a momentous occasion as sports clubs gathered to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking project tackling sexualized violence in youth sports. The baton was handed over, symbolically recalling the athletics relay, to welcome eight new clubs and two schools to the fold.
Now, let's not forget that Essen's sports scene has faced some dark times. Recall the depressing case of an Essen football coach serving time in the slammer for years of abuse. And just a while back, a 27-year-old ex-coach was arrested for preying on two young boys. So, the Essen Sports Association (Espo) teamed up with the Krupp Foundation to create the "Essen Initiative against sexualized violence in children's and youth sports." Their mission: to educate and equip sports institutions with the tools to prevent such tragedies.
Espo's director, Thorsten Flügel, eloquently stated, "We hope we'll never need to use what we learn here."
Enter our ten brave sports institutions, united in their mission. Initially, clubs were hesitant, unwilling to be associated with such a sensitive topic. But, as awareness grew, so did the demand for change. MTG Horst was among the first to step up, pledging their commitment to learning and growth.
"It's all about prevention," Michaela Kunst emphasized. "Small interactions can lead to harmful situations. We want to be equipped with the knowledge to handle these instances correctly." And her colleague, Dunja Rüping, agreed: "The subject is now everywhere in our club. We have a designated contact person. Can't measure success, but the awareness is evident."
Joining the ranks are Elsa-Brändström-Realschule from Bergerhausen and Helmholtz Gymnasium from Rüttenscheid, focusing on sports education. And the first round clubs? Well, they're still learning, constantly adapting to new circumstances as fresh faces join the teams.
So, here's a list of the participants in Project Round 2025/26:
- Elsa-Bränström-Realschule
- ESC Moskitos Essen
- Essener Jugend-Eiskunstlaufverein
- Helmholtz Gymnasium
- Kanusport-Gemeinschaft Essen
- SG Essen-Schönebeck 19/68
- Sport- und Tanzinternat Essen
- Startgemeinschaft Essen
- Team Talente Essen (Bündnis von Klubs aus olympischen Ball- bzw. Mannschaftssportarten)
- Turn- und Sportverein Essen Margarethenhöhe
- In light of the ongoing efforts to address crime and justice issues in sports, especially within football, the "Essen Initiative against sexualized violence in children's and youth sports" was a timely response to the dark history of Essen's sports scene.
- The project's focus on sports education, as demonstrated by the participation of Elsa-Bränström-Realschule and Helmholtz Gymnasium, aligns with the general-news goal of fostering an environment where sports can be enjoyed safely and responsibly.
