Vålerenga Kicks Off Diversity Wins Locally: Schools and Grassroots United
November 17, 2023
This autumn, Vålerenga Samfunn proudly launched its branch of the Diversity Wins initiative—a dynamic project aimed at teaching youth and grassroots club members about discrimination, anti-racism, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in their everyday environments.
School-Based Education Engages Young Minds
Vålerenga Samfunn introduced a comprehensive school programme featuring:
- A student workbook and teacher manual, designed around five classroom hours per school group, covering themes such as discrimination, sexuality, gender equality, religion, and anti-racism.
- Two teacher workshops held at Intility Arena, including an introduction session and material handout, led by leading experts in LGBTQ+ and anti-discrimination education.
- A concluding event at Intility Arena for students and teachers to reflect on their experiences and reinforce learning.
These sessions brought theory into practice—and let participants voice their perspectives on inclusion in a structured, thoughtful environment.Club Foundation+3Vålerenga Samfunn+3Wikipedia+3
Grassroots Clubs Join the Conversation
Not stopping at schools, the project expanded into local football clubs with:
- Workshops to increase clubs’ capacity for addressing diversity issues.
- Coaches and youth leaders trained through awareness sessions, who then brought these discussions to their teams with targeted educational activities.
- Group gatherings and team-specific sessions, culminating in a joint closing event also held at Intility Arena.
This approach ensured the project’s values were woven into the social fabric of local sport and youth organizations.Vålerenga Samfunn
Acknowledging Wider Support and Participation
Vålerenga Samfunn partnered with the European Football for Development Network (EFDN) in this rollout. The project runs in parallel with six other club initiatives across Belgium, Spain, Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands—promoting a unified European movement for football-based education and inclusion.
