Final 5 selected projects of Dream Building Fund 2023 powered by GSD released!

Following an intense and competitive selection process of the Grand Final, the ITTF Foundation is thrilled to announce the final 5 recipient projects for the Dream Building Fund (DBF) 2023, powered by The Foundation for Global Sports Development (GSD).

The Grand Final saw presentations from 18 outstanding shortlisted candidates out of 177 applications from 64 countries and territories. Followed by an online Q&A session with an esteemed panel of jury, 5 projects emerged as the best ones highly qualified for the assessment criteria in the context of the project, quality of project design, implementation proposal, impact, dissemination, and sustainability of the project. Each of the projects is committed to using table tennis as a means to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and has good alignment with the ITTF’s theme of "Diversity & Inclusion" for the years 2024 and 2025.

The jury panel comprised esteemed professionals with extensive experience in leveraging sports, particularly table tennis, for positive social change, including:

  • Deqa Niamkey (Development Director, United World Wrestling)
  • Dr. Ben Sanders (Senior Consultant, The International Platform on Sport and Development)
  • Elena Marin Yanez (Head of Programmes and Grants, Laureus Sport for Good)
  • Georg Schlachtenberger (Secretary General, World Amputee Football Federation; COO, International Paralympic Committee; former Director, Agitos Foundation)
  • Isabel Cathcart (Director of Operations, The Foundation for Global Sports Development / Sidewinder Films)
  • Katarzyna Kubas (Head of Development Projects, ITTF)
  • Leandro Olvech (Director, ITTF Foundation)
  • Petra Sörling (President, ITTF and ITTF Foundation)

 

The ITTF Foundation extends its congratulations to the 5 new recipient projects of the Dream Building Fund 2023 powered by GSD listed below:

1. Project: Ping Pong for Peace in Somalia

Organisation: Somalia Table Tennis Federation, Somalia

Targeting SDG 16 (Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies), this 2-year project aims to use table tennis as a means to contribute to the prevention and rehabilitation of children and youth (male and female) who are vulnerable to recruitment by the local armed forces, while mainstreaming gender and disability inclusiveness. To achieve the goals, the project will provide young people and their caregivers with access to a range of different activities and opportunities related to table tennis.

 

2. Project: Shaping the Future through Table Tennis

Organisation: Promoting Life-Time Activities for the Youth (PLAY), Malawi

Aiming to achieve SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) & 5 (Gender equality), this project envisages improving the existing programme targeting vulnerable boys and girls in 5 government schools to reduce early pregnancies, early marriages, and school dropout through table tennis. In a 3-year term, the project plans to train 25 coaches to support the programmes, make a total of 10 table tennis tables for the 5 schools in the project, train a minimum of 500 boys and girls and conduct school tournaments.

 

3. Project: Smash Barriers - Every Table is a Playground

Organisation: Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal, India

This 3-year project aims to use table tennis as a catalyst for fostering community cohesion, inclusivity, and gender equality, and empowering youth through education. It will focus on establishing table tennis facilities and organising table tennis training sessions, workshops, community events and mixed-gender tournaments to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while challenging gender stereotypes in schools and local communities.

 

4. Project: Table Tennis against Alzheimer’s – the Art of Inclusion

Organisation: Foundation Compassion Alzheimer Bulgaria, Bulgaria

Targeting the SDGs regarding well-being and inclusivity, this project aims to raise awareness of the health benefits table tennis can bring to people living with dementia, among caregivers and the public.  Over a 2-year period, the project will demonstrate empowering examples of people with Alzheimer's engaging in table tennis activities by hosting training sessions, workshops, conferences, and tournaments specifically tailored for people with dementia in Bulgaria.

 

5. Project: Utilizing Table Tennis to Improve Integration and Social Skills of Students with Learning Disabilities in a Mainstream Elementary School in Palestine

Organisation: The Comprehensive Model University School Hebron, Palestine

This 2-year project aims to enhance the integration and social skills of students with learning disabilities in an elementary school in Hebron through the introduction of table tennis. With a focus on benefiting at least 84 children (boys and girls), along with teachers and sports education experts, the project will ensure equipment accessibility and provide valuable experiential learning opportunities for physical education (PE) teachers and university students. The project also plans to have a positive effect on families, policymakers, and other schools by publishing its results to serve as a replicable model for fostering inclusivity and social development through table tennis.

 

The above 5 projects represent a diverse range of geographical locations and social objectives, each poised to make a meaningful impact in their respective communities. The ITTF Foundation once again sends its sincere congratulations to the selected recipients and heartfelt appreciation to all the applicants of this 4th edition of Dream Building Fund. We look forward to supporting the 5 recipients’ initiatives with the upcoming collaborative project design and capacity building workshops in the next months, as we work together towards positive social change through the power of table tennis. Meanwhile, we also encourage every dedicated table tennis for development enthusiast to keep the faith and grow together with us.

 

The 5 new Dream Building Fund projects will be celebrating World Table Tennis Day on 23rd April 2024 with the official kickstart taking place in May 2024. Stay tuned to get to know more change-making stories from them.

 

#Changemaker #TTCanChangeLives

 

 

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