If origin determines future, sport can create opportunities.

You don't have to look far to see hardship; a glance at your own front door is enough: one in six children in Germany doesn't have equal opportunities, and one in seven is at risk of poverty. Those from educationally disadvantaged or low-income households have significantly lower chances of attending a Gymnasium (grammar school), achieving good grades, or securing stable career prospects. According to the Opportunities Monitor , the probability of children from disadvantaged backgrounds attending a Gymnasium is around 26.7%, compared to 59.8% for children from more privileged households. Those disadvantaged in education often carry this inequality with them for a lifetime. However, social inequality doesn't just affect the classroom, but also access to sports and leisure activities – crucial spaces where identity, trust, and community are formed.

Sport – much more than just exercise

Being physically active together is not only healthy, but also teaches values, promotes participation, and fosters a sense of community. It can help reduce inequalities and open doors for children that would otherwise remain closed to them.

One example of a holistically conceived sports project is KICKFAIR . KICKFAIR's educational concept is about much more than just playing football: it's a dynamic learning environment where young people take on responsibility, actively practice fairness, and discover their own potential, thereby gaining greater self-confidence. Whether as players on the pitch, as mediators in conflicts, or later as Youth Leaders who design their own projects – the young people become active participants. In this way, they develop not only athletic skills but also important social competencies that extend far beyond football. KICKFAIR reaches thousands of young people annually at over 100 schools in Germany, creating a platform for personal development and social participation, especially for those who otherwise have fewer opportunities.

RheinFlanke also harnesses the integrative power of sport to provide sustainable support for disadvantaged children and young people. At its centers in Cologne, Bonn, and Düsseldorf, the sports field becomes a safe space where young people can build trust and develop motivation. By combining sports programs with targeted socio-educational support, ranging from homework help and career guidance to mentoring, RheinFlanke creates new pathways to education, training, and social participation. The organization supports young people over several years, making sport a catalyst for a better future.

With their concepts, the two projects also make an important contribution to the United Nations' sustainability goals, such as SDG 3 "Good Health and Well-being", SDG 4 "Quality Education" or SDG 10 "Reduced Inequalities".

Made possible through cooperation: share & ING

Thanks to the partnership between ING Bank and share, KICKFAIR and Rheinflanke alone have already enabled 210,000 hours of education. Behind this number lie countless encounters, learning experiences, and success stories – children and young people who have gained self-confidence through sport, discovered their talents, and developed new perspectives for their future. All of this is not a luxury; it is urgently needed.