City Pirates is much more than just a football club. In addition to their 75 teams, which account for more than 1,400 members, they also work socially and socially for young people in Antwerp. Through accessible social activities and a focus on intercultural dialogue, they work on a better city. The organization has received recognition from, among others, the UEFA Foundation for Children, which awarded a €50,000 grant in 2020 to support their social initiatives.
Modero has also been happily committed to the City Pirates. For example, we support the operation of the club by funding two social workers who are deployed full-time in daily operations.
Social and sporting go hand in hand at City Pirates.
Young people playing football receive support from sports, youth work and welfare work, organized by a group of social workers and volunteers. For example, they can count on homework assistance, workshops, guidance to (student) work, digital classes, home and school visits, camps. They also participate in the European Social Fund operational programme that aims to reduce the distance of low-skilled young people from the labour market.
In addition, there is a wide range of foreign language newcomers to learn Dutch. In this way, young people acquire competences with attention to equality, respect and engagement, so that they can face a stable and balanced future.
The social aspect of the club is monitored by the establishment of the City Pirates Foundation.
Jan De Meuter has been working as chairman of this foundation since 2016. He explains Modero's commitment to this project as follows:
“As a bailiff, we feel strongly related to the Pirates. That may sound strange, but it isn't. The social role of a bailiff is essential for his performance as a mediator and facilitator. Not only do we want to solve payment problems, we also want to prevent them. This is only possible if you set the focus of your way of working broadly enough, if you want to be aware of the world in which you live. The Pirates are also not just playing football, but are building a community. We would like to participate in that.”
By focusing on creating a safety net and mentoring young people through City Pirates and their initiatives, we want to help prevent financial problems and contribute to a better future for the young people of tomorrow.