The 11th J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Sydney will provide a benefit to Football United for the third year.

Q&A with Anne Bunde-Birouste,
Founding Director, Football United

SYDNEY, Sept. 28, 2011 — For the third consecutive year, Football United® will serve as the beneficiary for the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge® in Sydney.

In an effort to give all Corporate Challenge participants an inside look at how their efforts will benefit this not-for-profit organization, www.jpmorganchasecc.com asked Founding Director Anne Bunde-Birouste a few questions about Football United’s mission, plans and upcoming initiatives.

Bunde-Birouste will be on hand for the 9 November race in Centennial Park. Registration will remain open for all companies until 19 October.

Football United strives to bring people together.

What is Football United’s mission statement?
Football United uses the magic of football to bring people together for the common goal of creating harmonious and cohesive societies. We aim to build capacity of communities, and improve the skills of people, in diverse areas that include high proportions of refugee, migrant and indigenous children, youth and families. We believe in harmony and social justice for all. 

How did the donation from the 2010 Corporate Challenge specifically aid Football United?
JP Morgan’s 2010 Corporate Challenge support was allocated to Football United’s leadership development program, which is designed to enhance the confidence of youth, and enable them to address life’s challenges and make a difference in their communities. With financial assistance from JP Morgan’s 2010 Corporate Challenge, Football United and its football development director Aytec Genc, former Socceroo, were able to provide various levels of FFA-accredited coaching training for over 50 of the youth leaders.

With this funding, Football United also added a life-skills education course and two personal development workshop modules to complete its overall capacity building training for the young and talented leaders. Importantly throughout this process, Football United has developed stronger relationships with its school partners and TAFE NSW to align the course work delivered within these training programs to be more closely aligned with existing curriculum

With the committed, qualified and motivated youth leaders, Football United is currently running weekly football programs in eight areas in South and Southwestern Sydney: Lurnea, Miller, Fairfield, Granville, Auburn, Blacktown, Airds.

Many of the youth leaders come from refugee backgrounds. Most are from the local community where they live, and all care tremendously about their work. They coach to inspire, so one day the same children that have been coached are able to contribute to their community themselves. It is this sustainable football and personal development that stands communities in good stead to maintain a harmonious and cohesive community life as well.

Do you have plans on how the 2011 donation will be utilized?
Football United plans to continue work in the same areas of youth leadership development tthrough a specialised and focussed Educational Program for 12 Football United Youth who will move to level of Assistant Project Coordinators. They will receive higher level coaching and further Life Skills and leadership courses, as well as Pathways to TAFE and University and individual mentoring from Football United Staff and Volunteers.

The Youth Coordinators will be identified through the current JP Morgan Foundation Project — Educating Local Leaders to Grow and Sustain Football United. This project has seen the development of 50 youth across 5 Football United programs through Communication, Project Coordination and Fundraising Training. Through this process there have been over 20 standout leaders whom are now contributing to Football United far beyond their own localised initiatives. From this group 12 will be identified to continue their Leadership Development, part of which will be to take increasing responsibilities for the planning and delivery of FUn programs.

What other exciting initiatives is Football United working on now?
Football United continues to receive accolades for its work. In 2010 the film “Football United — Passport to Hope”, was awarded the Australian National Human Rights award: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/. In 2011 Football United awarded the inaugural New South Wales Building Inclusive Communities Award.

Football United has recently begun its Digital Connections Project, an exciting new program which offers new opportunities through teaching digital technologies and innovative social networking to engage our communities. By empowering participants with the necessary skills to share their stories in a digital world, Football United is going to demonstrate the magic of football to bring people together across Australia and connect people throughout the world. The exciting project is supported by Football United’s newest Ambassador, Australian film great Phillip Noyce.

United is the first Football for Social Development organisation to enter a partnership with a fair trade sports supplier, Jinta Sport (http://www.jintasport.com.au/). Jinta products are guaranteed to be child labour free and the workers involved in the production are treated with dignity and paid living wages. Jinta offers special discounts to clients purchasing their products as well as a donation to Football United. Football United will purchase fair trade balls in any equipment purchase that they make.

Anne Bunde-Birouste, Founding Director Football United, with Rob Priestley, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Australia, at the 2010 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Sydney.

In 2011 Football United commenced its first Indigenous Project in partnership with Airds High School in Campbelltown and TAFE NSW. This project has seen 15 male and female youth who learn as part of a support unit at Airds HS attend a training boot camp, a variety of cross program events and are recipients of FUn programs on a weekly basis.

Football United has also begun a new state-wide program in South Australia in collaboration with the University of South Australia Adelaide.

How can Corporate Challenge participants support Football United in other ways?

J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge participants can contribute their time, energy and resources to Football United to reach the common goal of creating harmonious and cohesive societies. They can host fundraising initiatives specific to an activity or event or particular program site of Football United, or volunteer at any number of our weekly football programs and special events. Football United has a number of mentoring opportunities, as well as avenues for pro-bono support of many of our key needs. The Corporate Challenge participants are encouraged to connect with us to explore how they can combine their personal passions and capacities with our mission.