A whole week of sport

Opportunities for children to do sport are often very limited, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is a great pity; after all, sport is a great motivator, promotes team spirit, has a positive impact on physical fitness and coordination and helps prevent overweight.

As part of its winter programme, therefore, RWE Companius decided to promote a project entailing a whole week of sport at the Astrid Lindgren School in Essen, most of whose pupils come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Two RWE employees supported the project by being personally present throughout. “I’m thrilled with the work of these volunteers,” says trainee teacher Britta Hackmann, the project’s initiator and organiser. “Thanks to them, the children were able to learn lots of new things and experienced what for them was a very special week.” Some 170 children were given a chance to try out various different disciplines: inline skating, belly dancing, table tennis, equestrian vaulting, climbing and swimming – to name but a few examples.

Eugen Luja, one of the two helpers, headed the girls’ football group. An employee of RWE Power, he plays football in his spare time and hence knows the game inside out. “Hardly anyone in the group had had any previous experience, but they were all highly motivated and many of them are now interested in keeping it up,” he says. Because of this, he is now planning a project of his own to give the girls regular coaching and has already won the support of the coach in neighbouring Hattingen. The aim is to enable the girls to practise regularly. The project is still in its infancy and there are a number of obstacles still to be overcome; but now that the girls’ interest has been aroused, the biggest hurdle of all has already been taken. “The week was definitely worthwhile if only because it proved to me that there are children who need and deserve our support,” says Luja.