ANNUAL REPORT Name: GAME Address: Enghavevej 82D, DK-2450 Copenhagen SV Phone: (+45) 70 20 83 23 Website: E-Mail: Hello@Game.Ngo CVR

Home , Aalborg, Aalborg Municipality, Esbjerg

GAME Streetmekka Viborg

ANNUAL REPORT Name: GAME Address: Enghavevej 82D, DK-2450 Copenhagen SV Phone: (+45) 70 20 83 23 Website: www.game.ngo E-mail: [email protected] CVR. no.: 27 21 33 08 Founded: 2002 Registered Office: DK-Copenhagen

Board of Directors: Anders Monrad Rendtorff, Chairman Maria Bøge, Deputy Chairman Mads Flarup Christensen Line Groes Leif Lønsmann Lotte Marschall Thomas Ravn-Pedersen Gurpaul Singh Rehal Josephine Svensson

Management: Simon Prahm, CEO og Co-founder Morten Bo Andersen, Managing Director Ida Brix, Head of Communications Mikkel Selmar, Head of GAME Facilities Marie Traasdahl Staal, Head of Innovation and Social Programs

Auditors: Grant Thornton, Stockholmsgade 45, DK-2100 Copenhagen

Front page photo: Volunteer of the Year 2018 Zeina Harb is Playmaker in Tahwita GAME Zone in Lebanon. She is chosen as The Volunteer of the Year 2018 in all of GAME for her outstanding commitment and leadership since 2013.

"The most valuable thing is the fulfillment you get when you im- prent miles of smiles on the faces of the children." - Zeina Hareb

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

GAME IN THE WORLD

GAME LEBANON The Power of Sports, Youth, and Girls

GAME JORDAN Jordan's Youth are Using the GAME Playmaker Methodology

GAME SOMALILAND First Year's Challenges and Opportunities

OPENING OF GAME HOUSE VIBORG AND AALBORG From Old Industrial Buildings to Popular Street Sports and Culture Facilities

EU ERASMUS+ PROGRAM GAME's Playmaker Program Headed to Greece, Italy, Lithuania, and Malta

INNOVATION PROJECT: ASPHALT GAME Has an Ear on the Asphalt

GAME'S WORK WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

PLAYMAKERS ARE THE BEST GAME AMBASSADORS Street Sports Between Beijing's Chimneys

THE DANISH PLATFORM FOR STREET SPORTS Microgrant Mechanism for Youth Street Sports Ideas

GAME PLAMAKER PROGRAM DENMARK "GAME has given me a new way to look at the world"

GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN 13-year-old Magnus Shows Who He Is through Music

HEALTH FOCUS AND FRIENDSHIPS ON ASPHALT "When the kids have fun at practice, that is the reward"

GAME HOUSE ESBJERG The First Friday of the Month is the Best Friday of the Month

GAME IN PICTURES

GAME IN NUMBERS

FINANCIAL STATEMENT & BALANCE

ABOUT GAME

THANK YOU! GAME • CHAIRMAN'S REPORT CHAIRMAN’S REPORT eet Reem in the picture to the staff and volunteers gave their input on where far right. She is spending three the organization should be heading in the hours each week volunteering coming four years (2019-2022). In previous Mas a street basketball coach for years we dared to draw up the ambition of 442 children in the Tahwita GAME Zone in scaling our social impact. Now comes the Southern Beirut. She is what you would see if time to deliver, as new houses are a reality you zoom in on the Global Compact for Mi- and new countries are being added to the gration - a much-needed new resolution that map. With the title 'Growing Together' and an saw the light of day in the last days of 2018. official launch at the Annual General Meet- ing in March 2019, the new strategy will The new resolution is without precedent and develop the necessary organizational infra- it will seek to address all dimensions of in- structure to enable us to deliver impact at a ternational migration in a holistic and com- greater scale in the same high quality we are prehensive manner. This is indispensable and used to. something we applaud in GAME, as a dis- tressing and historically high number of peo- 2018 saw the much-anticipated opening of ple are displaced and forced to migrate due GAME House Aalborg and GAME House to conflicts. Forced displacement is not an iso- Viborg - the two latest indoor street sports lated humanitarian problem, but a broader facilities in Denmark. Both facilities are off development and security challenge as well. to a good start and GAME House Viborg This calls for solutions that can address the was shortlisted for the prestigious European acute needs in countries of conflict and tur- architecture award, the Mies van der Rohe moil and help facilitate stability in the receiv- Award, and named a Top 10 New Sports Fa- In the past year ing countries when safe return is not realistic cility of the year by Dezeen magazine. New in the near future. This includes preventing partnerships with a sound combination of we have educated the marginalization of ethnic minorities in private, philanthropic and public sector part- no less than 632 the receiving countries. ners have also been launched to innovate the impact delivery in these GAME Houses. young role models One of the things that makes me most proud who organize free of being part of GAME is that we are able to WHAT ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY? do all three things mentioned above. In 2018 During 2018 we also looked deeply at the and open week- we provided humanitarian support via cash sustainability of GAME’s impact. Let me distributions to refugee youth in Lebanon give you an example: In Denmark we have ly street sports benefitting their families who have fled the for three years tested an unbureaucratic activities in Den- civil war in Syria. And in all countries where method of moving money fast from desks we operate, our young Playmakers continue to the streets with micro grants for street mark, Jordan, Leb- to build social cohesion out on the asphalt be- sports communities across the country. It tween newcomers and the local population. has sparked a remarkable number of inno- anon and Somalil- This empowers young people to take on ac- vative street sports projects and invited more and tive roles in society and to make their voices children and youth into sports communities count. It also improves the stability and low- with an impressive attendance of 152,404 in ers the risk of radicalization, racism and oth- 2018. But the question is: what happens to er forms of discrimination. In the past year the activities once the seed money is spent? we have educated no less than 632 young role How can we help start-up activities turn into models who organize free and open weekly on-going activities? Getting the local authori- with local on-the-ground partners, launched street sports activities in Denmark, Jordan, ties onboard for the long-term is increasingly activities in Jordan and Somaliland. The Lebanon and Somaliland. They are the true important in the years to come if the impact Playmakers in Jordan and Somaliland have heroes in GAME. is to be sustained. been trained and are now equipped to provide leadership, resolve conflicts, strengthen NEW STRATEGY: GROWING TOGETHER START UP IN JORDAN AND SOMALILAND gender equality and provide communities In the course of 2018 we focused on devel- In the first months of the year and with sup- with street sports activities for local children. oping a new strategy through a participatory port from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of In Jordan, the first season brought over process where GAME board, management, Denmark, GAME, in close collaboration 10,000 attendances in five GAME Zones. In 4 Somaliland involving girls - both as Playmak- ers and in the weekly sports sessions - was a success. The past year has also brought atten- tion to the importance of selecting the right partner. Making sure the partner has the right capabilities and values will be something we will always strive to become better at.

GAME IN NUMBERS On the financial side the rapid growth we have experienced in the previous years has paused and we see a 1 percent decrease making the total revenue across countries 4.0 million EUR (2017: 4.1 million EUR). The sur- plus decreased to 13,925 EUR (2017: 96,857 EUR), equivalent to 0.3 percent of revenue. Despite this, we increased efficiency and set two new records out on the asphalt: the number of individuals participating directly in GAME’s activities, globally, went above 20,000 and the collective attendance, globally, landed at 321,142 with an additional 152,404 show-ups at initiatives supported by the Danish Platform for Street Sports. And on the list of the world’s best NGOs, GAME improved its position for the fourth year in a row and is now placed at 141 (2018: 179). All of this makes us well-prepared for the planned start-ups in Ghana, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta and Tunisia in 2019.

THANK YOU! On behalf of GAME, I would like to thank our many Playmakers, volunteers, donors, and partners as well as our professional and engaged staff, all of whom have played their Photo: Aras Issa Alzaidy part in the significant achievements over the past year. Your hard work is of great inspiration.

Anders Rendtorff Chairman

5 GAME IN THE WORLD

DENMARK 33 GAME ZONES DENMARK LITHUANIA 2019 4 2002 GAME HOUSES 122,322 ATTENDANCES 152,404 ATTENDANCES DANISH PLAT- FORM OF STREET SPORTS 217 PLAYMAKERS GREECE 38% ITALY 2019 GIRLS IN GAME ZONES 2019

LEBANON 17 GAME ZONES MALTA 2019 34,683 TUNISIA ATTENDANCES 2019 4,010 PARTICIPANTS 302 GAME PLAYMAKERS 34% FEMALE IN GAME ZONES

JORDAN 5 GAME ZONES 10,658 ATTENDANCES 1,096 PARTICIPANTS 73 GAME PLAYMAKERS GHANA 23% 2019 FEMALE IN GAME ZONES

SOMALILAND 4 GAME ZONES 1,075 ATTENDANCES 40 PLAYMAKERS 32% FEMALE IN GAME ZONES

6 GREECE

LEBANON 2007

JORDAN 2018

SOMALILAND 2018

7 GAME LEBANON • PLAYMAKER PROGRAM • VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

THE POWER OF SPORTS, YOUTH, AND GIRLS

In areas of conflicts, crisis and po- a Do-It-Yourself workshop where the youth There is an enormous pressure on the host verty, young people and children, es- have built street sports equipment and furni- communities, which are often in deprived pecially girls, often bear the heaviest ture for socializing. neighborhoods and rural towns. Out of an burden of vulnerability. Yet they are estimated total population of 5.9 million also the most powerful resource for Activities targeting underserved children and people living in Lebanon, the number of change and new opportunities. youth in these areas are supported by the people in need is 3.3 million (56 percent) with Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) un- around half being under the age of 18. GAME has been in Lebanon for twelve years. der the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Den- As in all of GAME’s programs, sports and mark and the British Embassy in Beirut. A NEW DAY IN ARSAL youth are in the forefront of bridging divides One of the new GAME Zones that was set up and conflicts in the fragile country neigh- BELOW THE POVERTY LINE in 2018 is in Arsal - a city located in the north boring war-torn Syria. Starting in Beirut in The Syrian civil war is now in its ninth year eastern part of the country near the Syrian 2007, the activities have grown out of the and has caused 6 million people to become border. Until 2017 the city saw heavy fighting capital over the years to meet the needs of internally displaced, while another 5 mil- and a presence from ISIS, but today the Le- children and youth in various communities lion refugees have fled the country. Though banese Armed Forces (LAF) have taken back across the country. returns are beginning to pick up, the rate is control of the area. The population is esti- still very slow and Lebanon officially hosts mated to have 40,000 Lebanese and 100,000 In the past year GAME has taken a new turn 948,849 Syrian refugees. The actual num- refugees and the situation remains very tense. to reach highly vulnerable and marginalized ber however is estimated to be closer to 1.5 This leaves a pressing need to bring the youth children and youth in areas that aren't exact- million. together across religion and nationality. With ly known for street sports. This includes acti- the army's high presence and numerous vities in Palestinian Camps that have seen a In 2018 some improvements were seen in checkpoints nearby there is only limited ac- large influx of refugees from Syria as well as economic resilience, stabilization in educa- cess to the area, which makes GAME's good in remote villages and towns close to the Syr- tion, and food security, but overall the Syrian partner Jousour El Nour (Bridges to Light) a ian border. refugees still remain very vulnerable with 69 cornerstone in the implementation. percent living below the poverty line. One of The method that has been used is the well- the highlighted issues in a recent Vulnerabili- With Playmakers at the frontline the power known GAME Playmaker program with a ty Assessment from UNHCR are the persist- of sports has been a tool to promote stability, few add-ons, including support from local ing protection needs including safe spaces for social cohesion, and gender equality amongst on-the-asphalt implementing partners, and children to play sports. the local children and youth. A survey has

8 GAME Finals in Beirut 2018: 140 teams, 700 players and 130 volunteers. Grant from Erik Thunes legat and sponsorship from Puck - Arla's primary brand in the Middle East - made it possible. Photo: Aras Issa Alzaidy GAME LEBANON 2018 shown that GAME has managed to attract the right people to the activities. As in Arsal 43 percent of GAME's young volunteers live 34,683 under very hard conditions and are endan- ATTENDANCES gered of getting into extreme situations.

WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS? In traditional and conservative settings like 4,010 these, there is high gender inequality and PARTICIPANTS many activities that girls may not participate in. Sports are, however, being viewed as 'neu- tral' and a means to get the girls away from the domestic work and out on the asphalt 302 at an early age, and even to play alongside PLAYMAKERS the boys when interested. Once out on the asphalt, the boys play an important role in welcoming the girls and voicing their opinion that all have a right to play. This way they 17 encourage others to build acceptance of the GAME ZONES other gender as equal from a young age.

In a recent evaluation from the rural areas, the parents accepted their daughters’ participation in GAME's activities only because 87% it included sports. Using sports as a method OF PLAYMAKERS FEEL MORE therefore positions organizations like GAME CAPABLE OF SOLVING CONFLICTS with unique access to vulnerable target groups in conservative settings. Participation with GAME can be an important first step towards participation in other public arenas outside the home later in life. But it all starts 34% with a dribble on the asphalt.  FEMALE ATTENDANCES

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN ALL OF GAME

Zeina Hareb is Playmaker in Tahwita GAME Zone since 2013. Her journey with GAME began in 2008 when she was 14 years old and joined GAME as a basketball and football player. She is very dedicated to the GAME mission:

"GAME is my main motivation in life and I feel very included and have a space to give my opinion and share my ideas," Zeina says.

GAME chose Zeina as the Playmaker of the Year in GAME Lebanon for her success in motivating girls to attend the practices in Tahwita GAME Zone. She is highly creative in different activities for the kids including dance activities at GAME Finals, participation in the Beirut Marathon and in EU Green Day.

Zeina has been organizing all the volunteers and participants - not only from her GAME Zone but also from other GAME Zones.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN ALL OF GAME Zeina was also chosen as the Volunteer of the Year 2018 in all of GAME for her outstanding commitment and leadership since 2013.

9 GAME JORDAN • PLAYMAKER PROGRAM • STREET SPORTS INCUBATOR JORDAN’S YOUTH START USING THE GAME PLAYMAKER METHODOLOGY

In 2018, two countries started using ball, street dance and street football. GAME's methodology to improve opportunities for young people. One of "I applied to go to the Playmaker Camp be- them is Jordan, where GAME, togeth- cause of Jordan's need for a safe place for er with its local partner, The Jordan children and youth to do sports and to take Youth Innovation Forum (JYIF), is part in shaping the future," Yazan Saif con- breaking through the glass ceiling to tinues. show that it is possible to challenge the barriers for girls in sports and GENDER EQUALITY young people as volunteers - from the One of GAME’s goals around the world is front line. gender equality. With a participation rate of 40 percent female at the first Playmaker It all started with a GAME Playmaker Camp Camp in Jordan and 47 percent at the end of in the spring of 2018. This was the first of 2018, GAME’s mission for more girls to be two camps to equip Jordan’s youth to do involved in street sports is going in the right street sports for children in their local com- direction. But there is still a long way to go munities. to achieve equality, as Country Director in GAME Jordan, Ali Haddad explains: SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR IN JORDAN Since the first Playmaker Camp in Jordan, "23 percent girls in the weekly activities for GAME Playmakers have been going all out the children is not what we aimed for, and we to welcome children and young people for are going to focus even more on female par- the GAME Zones in Ramtha, Mafraq and ticipation in 2019 with initiatives like female Amman. Playmakers and role models, safe transporta- tion, and access to toilets." By the end of 2018 GAME Jordan counted 73 active Playmakers - more than half of Throughout 2018, young Playmakers have whom had never volunteered in a civil society received even more tools for their toolbox. organization before. It is thanks to the Play- One of those who have benefited from the makers that the five GAME Zones in Jordan competences that Playmaker training gives is succeeded with over 10,000 attendances. Jordan's Playmaker of the Year, Omar Ab- zakh. TRAINED TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP 23-year-old Yazan Saif was one of the 88 "When you look into the kids' eyes, you re- motivated young people who took part in alize that they look up to you, and you start the first Playmaker training back in March. working harder to meet their expectations. Yazan is a street basketball Playmaker. I'm now talking to people more. I can deal with them now. I wasn't like this, and GAME "The Playmaker Camp was a good experi- gave me this opportunity," 22-year-old Omar ence. I really enjoyed the way in which the Abzakh proudly recounts. various techniques for running a good practice session were presented to us," Yazan Saif GAME Jordan is a collaboration with The explains. Jordan Youth Innovation Forum and is supported by the Danish-Arab Partnership Pro- Just like GAME’s Playmakers in Denmark, gram under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana, Lebanon and Somaliland, Jordan’s of Denmark. The aim is to give the coun- Playmakers are being prepared to take on try’s youth a unique possibility to use street leadership roles, resolve conflicts in a peace- sports as a tool for building positive changes ful way, encourage active communities, and for themselves and for children and youth in assemble practice sessions for street basket- their local area.  10 (Above) 88 young Jordanians joined the first GAME Playmaker Camp in Jordan in 2018 to be trained as street sports instructors and role models for local kids. 40 percent of them were female.

(Left) Omar Abzakh earned the title of Volun- GAME JORDAN 2018 teer of the Year 2018 in GAME Jordan. LAUNCH OF THE STREET Photos: GAME Jordan 5 SPORTS INCUBATOR To improve entrepreneurial and or- GAME ZONES ganizational capabilities in young people, GAME Jordan launch a Street Sports Incubator in March 2019. This will allow Playmakers, as well as oth- 10,658 er youth in the country, with an en- ATTENDANCES (23% FEMALE) trepreneurial mindset, to design their own sports initiatives.

The incubator will be run in partner- 1,096 ship with both Zain Innovation Cam- pus (ZINC) and the Jordanian Ministry PARTICIPANTS of Youth. The latter will provide the In- cubator with a network of 200 youth facilities located throughout Jordan.

73 For more: PLAYMAKERS (47% FEMALE) www.streetsportsincubator.org

11 GAME SOMALILAND • GENDER EQUALITY • VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

FIRST YEAR'S CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SOMALILAND

The GAME Playmaker Camp in early 2018 concept are the same in Denmark, Ghana, was the first taste of GAME’s impact in the Jordan, Lebanon and Somaliland, it is im- Horn of Africa. Following GAME’s model, portant to understand, respect and adjust it enabled young people of Somaliland to to the local context. To accommodate local run street sports for children in their neigh- religious beliefs and customs, girls and boys borhoods in the capital of Hargeisa. This do not practice together in the weekly prac- first year has been a pilot bringing - expect tices in Somaliland; however the Playmaker ed amounts of challenges and opportunities Camps are mixed. The Playmaker Camps within the country and also across the orga- have therefore been a great platform for nization navigating this vibrant and fragile youth to discuss gender equality, and the landscape. For both the Playmaker Camp weekly trainings have provided a space for and the weekly practices in the GAME them to implement their ideas. Zones, a heavy emphasis was placed on the inclusion of women and girls as well as sus- BEING A VOLUNTEER IN SOMALILAND tained commitment of vulnerable youth. The disparity in gender roles and ste- reotypes is not the only significant dif- After a challenging first few months,- So ference between Somaliland and Den- maliland children and youth are now playing mark, where the GAME model was born. street sports at GAME Zones across Hargeisa with their eyes firmly on expanding to Ber- Volunteering is not a top priority for these bera in 2019 and beyond. The first year has young men and women. Somaliland youth achieved the target of reaching more than lack many of the basic necessities that Dan- 500 children and youth, yet there is still a lot ish youth would take for granted such as bus remaining to be done in terms of capacity fare, affordable internet on their phones, ap-

development of partners, sustaining parti- propriate shoes and public access to sports. GAME SOMALILAND2018 cipation, and understanding the context and the unique gender element. However, while the local context in Denmark 4 and Somaliland is very different, and Danish GAME ZONE THE GIRLS WANT TO JOIN and Somaliland Playmakers may have differ- One of the more unexpected success stories ent requirements, it has not been an issue re- of GAME Somaliland has been its abili- cruiting volunteers: youth in Somaliland are ty to attract girls and women. Still short of constantly looking for ways to improve them- 1.075 the 40 percent female participation goal in selves, participate in civil society, and increase ATTENDANCES (32% FEMALE) the weekly activities, in 2018 girls’ participa- their employability. They are hungry to gain tion among Playmakers was 20 percent and new skills and abilities. among the participants in the GAME Zones 40 32 percent. INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS To increase the impact and help the Play- PLAYMAKERS (20% FEMALE) Though below GAME’s target, the 20 per- makers grow even more, GAME Somali- cent and 32 percent figures are higher than land established a partnership with Save the expected. This is because in Somaliland, Children in Somaliland. With their expertise, receive thematic training and improve their young women are self-organized and pas- GAME Somaliland has improved the Play- knowledge and networks. sionate about their right to play, as has been maker training with a component building seen through the dynamism and commit- their capacity on child protection and rights. GAME’s activities in Somaliland in 2018 were ment of GAME's partner, Somaliland Cul- run in partnership with SOCSA, Somaliland ture and Sports Association (SOCSA), a The Playmakers will also be engaged in youth National Youth Organization (SONYO), women-led youth organization focusing on resilience activities and with support from and the Ministry of Youth and Sports who sports and culture. GAME’s efforts tap into a Save the Children, the Playmakers will be have been the largest champions as the coun- general movement occurring across Hargeisa able to conduct even more weekly practices try applauds innovative ideas and partner- where the youth, as well as NGOs, put great for the children and adolescents in the local ships for their transient and aspiring youth. importance on gender equality as the region communities. GAME has the capability to at- blossoms. tract children and youth through street sports GAME is supported by CISU (Civil Society and has become a platform and a vehicle in Development), a program of the Ministry LOCAL ADJUSTMENT TO A GLOBAL- where they can meet with other thematically of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, as well as METHOD strong actors such as Save The Children, or Save the Children Somaliland in both re- Even though many elements of the GAME other multinational organizations in order to sources and thematic areas of expertise.  12 VOLUNTEERS 20 OF THE YEAR 18

The world is moving and GAME is moving into the world. I am both touched and proud on behalf of GAME when, over and over, I experience how our volunteers take responsibility and lead the way when we together make the world a better place. They can't be celebrated enough.

- Morten Bo Andersen, Managing Director, GAME

OMAR ABZAKH ISABELLA MADSEN Playmaker in GAME Zone Mugabalayn, Playmaker in GAME Girls and volunteer GAME Jordan GAME House Copenhagen, Denmark

ZEINA HAREB ESMAT NAJIBI Playmaker in GAME Zone Tahwita, Beirut Playmaker, GAME Zone Viborg, GAME Lebanon Playmakerprogram in GAME Denmark VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN ALL OF GAME

KRISTIAN LYHNE JENSEN DANIEL PEDERSEN Event volunteer Event volunteer GAME House Aalborg, Denmark GAME House Viborg, Denmark

13 GAME DENMARK • OPENING OF GAME HOUSE AALBORG AND VIBORG

In 2018, GAME breathed new life into ity of reasons do not find their way into the two old industrial buildings in Aalborg local sports clubs, into the activities, and to and Viborg, in Denmark. By focusing mix them with the other members. on sustainable architecture, GAME showed, once more, how people from "In GAME, we are working to lower the a variety of social, cultural and eco- threshold for participation in sports. We are, nomic backgrounds can meet one an- therefore, very happy about and proud of the other through street sports and street high participation rates in the two new facili- culture in an urban setting. ties. By working with housing associations, we have especially had success in getting hold of The UN estimates that, in 2050, 70 percent some of the kids who are not part of tradi- of the world’s population will live on 0.5 tional Danish sports clubs," says Mikkel Sel- percent of the world’s area. But how do we mar, Head of GAME Facilities. build cities in which people of many different backgrounds thrive? Sustainable architecture ONE THIRD OF THE PRICE AND THREE is taking the lead in more and more places. TIMES AS MUCH SQUARE FOOTAGE. To do so, one must think about which foot- In the inaugural speech for GAME House print the project leaves on the environment, Viborg on March 9, 2018, the director of but also about diversity and social and eco- The Danish Foundation for Culture and nomic sustainability. Sports Facilities, which has been a part of the partnership behind both street sports In 2018, GAME opened the gates to two in- facilities, emphasized why social sustainable door street sports facilities - one in Aalborg architecture is a key word in the way we must and one in Viborg, respectively. An old lab- build our cities: By working oratory and a windmill factory were transformed into living, inclusive places where "We are super skilled at building sports facili- with housing kids and adults can now meet for street sports ties for those people who already are taking associations, we and culture. part in sports activities, but there also needs have especially to be something for all the kids who do not "Our ambition is that GAME House Aalborg do badminton and gymnastics," says Esben had success in and Viborg will be new meeting places for Danielsen, director of The Danish Founda- getting hold of communities that are about street sports and tion for Culture and Sports Facilities. some of the kids culture. In this way, the facilities become hubs for positive communities whose members "A traditional sports hall costs three times as who are not part span different interests and backgrounds," much per square foot as this place - and it fits of traditional says Mikkel Selmer, Head of Facilities in three times as many people here." Danish sports GAME. SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN clubs. MEMBER NUMBERS ARE BOOMING Sustainable interior design and involving the - Mikkel Selmar, Laboratory smocks in the metal lockers have communities who will be using the place was Head of GAME facilities long since been replaced by gym bags, and an important part of the process that built thirsty members are now gathering around GAME House Aalborg and Viborg. Before the industrial sinks to fill up their water bott- the opening of the two sports facilities, the les. All in all, 3,759 residents of Viborg and users were invited to give a hand in several turned into trash cans. 3,433 of Aalborg have become members in building workshops. 2018 in GAME’s two new buldings. Togeth- GAME House Aalborg and Viborg opened er, the two street sports facilities have had The old doors from the laboratory were their gates in February and March 2018, re- over 60,000 visits in 2018. transformed into benches and tables. The spectively. More than 1,500 kids and adults industrial lighting fixtures, which previously came by for speeches and old-school freestyle At GAME House Aalborg and GAME had provided light for the windmill factory, rap from Danish rapper Pede B and samples House Viborg, it has gone especially well are now the homes of green plants, and the of the activities that are now filling the old in- with bringing kids and youth, who for a var- ventilation ducts in both facilities have been dustrial buildings.  14 GAME HOUSE VIBORG GAME House Aalborg and Viborg are FIRST KICK-SCOOTERS AT GAME the result of a partnership between the 3,759 HOUSE VIBORG WORN OUT Municipality of Aalborg and Viborg, the The locals have welcomed GAME House Danish foundations Realdania, TrygFond- MEMBERS en, Nordea-fonden, The Danish Founda- Viborg enthusiastically, resulting in 31,107 tion for Culture and Sports Facilities, Det visits and 3,759 memberships in 2018. But Obelske Familiefond, EFFEKT and JAJA many users equal a lot of wear and tear. architects and GAME. 31,107 Facility manager Thomas Gissel, who re- Photo: Heiður Erla Þormar ATTENDANCES cently purchased a new set of kick-scooters to replace those already worn out by the speed-loving users, finds that it is only 28% a good thing, because that means that the FEMALE ATTENDANCE place is popular. The purchase was made with a donation from the Danish foundation Spar Nord Fonden.

GAME HOUSE AALBORG FOOTBALL AND DINING IS A GREAT 3,433 SUCCESS AT GAME HOUSE AALBORG MEMBERS The old lab at Eternitten in Aalborg was reincarnated in 2018 as a street sports facility, where children and teens, and the whole community with different interests 30,090 and backgrounds come together to engage ATTENDANCES in street sports and culture. One of the initiatives in the House that is especially popular among the Aalborg members, is ’MeetUp&EatUp’. The concept is simple. 32% Following street football practice every FEMALE ATTENDANCE Thursday, everybody comes together to share a meal at GAME House Aalborg. ’MeetUp&EatUp’ has been financially supported by The Danish Platform for Street Sports.

15 GAME GREECE • ITALY • LITHUANIA • MALTA • ERASMUS+ PROGRAM • THE GAME ACADEMY

The ‘Youth-Led Street Sport for All’ project is supported by The Erasmus+ Sport program and runs from 2018 to 2020.

Organizations from five countries are participating, co-creating an online edu- cational tool available to the public, and training 600 young GAME Playmakers and reaching out to 5,000 underserved children.

The five NGO partners areARSIS (Greece), CESIE (Italy), GAME (Denmark), Integracios Centras (Lithuania) and MOVE (Malta).

www.gameacademy.ngo www.youthledstreetsportforall.eu

An important part of the Erasmus+ supported project is to develop an online toolbox - a 'GAME Academy' - that all Playmakers worldwide can use. Playmakers from both Denmark and Lebanon have been involved in workshops to give feedback and input on the development and testing of GAME Academy. Photo: Rasmus Slotø

The GAME practices has given me a new community to connect with a great variety of people. 16 GAME and four European NGOs through youth-led street sports and culture. riences and expertise of our partners," she have joined forces to increase partici- says. pation in street sports, strengthen so- MORE CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO JOIN cial inclusion and promote physical This will give youth in Greece, Italy, Lithu- INTRODUCING DIGITAL LEARNING activity amongst children and youth ania and Malta who are passionate about The GAME Academy is developed together through the Playmaker Program as street sports and culture the chance to train with global GAME staff and NGO partners, well as an online toolbox and edu- as Playmakers, becoming street sports in- with input from Playmakers and street sports cation portal. The program is sup- structors, role models and youth leaders. professionals. The resulting online tool is a ported by the EU Erasmus+ Sport Just as the Playmakers in Denmark, Ghana, website and an app that makes it easier for program and will start activities in Jordan, Lebanon, and Somaliland they will Playmakers to plan their weekly activities, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, be empowered to invite local kids into street offers them a space to share their own cre- and Malta, in 2019. sports activities and positive communities. ative ideas with Playmakers form around the world, and allows them to expand on their Across Europe, young people are search- The five NGOs are also co-creating an online knowledge learned at the Playmaker Camps. ing for ways to live healthier lives, to have toolbox, GAME Academy, to make it both greater economic and social opportunities, easy and meaningful to be a Playmaker in a "Together we are building an online resource and to find real and meaningful ways to GAME Zone – no matter where in the world. that combines all that the five partners have both belong to society and contribute to to offer, in street sports, empowerment, so- it. At the same time, the world is facing a Emily Ronek, one of GAME’s International cial support, advocacy, innovative educa- massive refugee crisis, challenging the social Partnership Managers, is thrilled about the tional methods, working with newly arrived cohesion within and among many Europe- partnership: refugees, and more. I love working with our an countries. partners, and I am so excited to see the local "Erasmus+ programs are such a valuable re- youth take the Playmaker Program, make it GAME has teamed up with four European source, because all partners can learn form their own and use it in their local communi- NGOs: ARSIS (Greece), CESIE (Italy), In- each other and from local realities that we ties to help create cohesion across Europe," tegracios Centras (Lithuania) and MOVE otherwise would never meet. In this project says International Partnership Manager in (Malta) to create lasting social change GAME is gaining so much from the expe- GAME, Emily Ronek. 

17 GAME • RESEARCH • INNOVATION • GENDER EQUALITY GAME HAS AN EAR ON THE ASPHALT How can GAME get even better at making a difference in society through youth-led street sports? With support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Danish Minis- try of Culture, GAME has launched the Denmark based ASPHALT project to develop and measure the impact of GAME’s Playmaker Program, which trains young role models on how to get more children physically active and included in communities in urban settings.

‘Design’ is often associated with fashionable FOCUS ON GIRLS IS REWARDED "One of the things that has become very clothes and beautiful furniture, but design is The ASPHALT project’s focus on inclusion clear as a result of the work of the ASPHALT also used to find new ways to support new of girls in GAME’s activities has already project is that many girls do not regard activ- communities or innovative solutions for social made a difference. ity in a club sport as 'being together with girl- challenges. friends' and we know that hanging out with girlfriends is extremely important to the girls. Innovation is a cornerstone of GAME’s Another insight that we have received in AS- way of working, and the ASPHALT project It is great to see PHALT is that many girls are unsure about GAME, therefore, uses methods from what starting a sport if they are not already good at is called 'Human Centered Design' to inves- how we are able it. And, paradoxically, these same girls would tigate how GAME’s impact can help make to achieve the really like to learn something new," says Ma- even more social change for more children rie Traasdahl Staal. and young people. desired effect by focusing directly TESTING COMMUNITIES FOR GIRLS NEW IDEAS AND CONCEPTS The insights that have come out of the design The inclusion of girls in sports and involve- on the issue we processes around the Playmaker Program so ment of parents are among the very central wish to change. far are constantly being challenged, devel- themes in the ASPHALT project’s design oped and turned into concrete projects, for - Marie Traasdahl Staal, Head of process. By systematically putting these Innovation and Social Programs example, four GAME Girl Zones in Den- themes through the processes of five design in GAME mark, which are designed to test different principles, GAME has developed a number concepts about girls’ participation in 2019. of specific ideas that, throughout 2018, have been tested as prototypes, and which now In the GAME Girl Zone, the focus is on the have become concepts and completely new "We have succeeded in raising the girls’ par- social side of things, on making room for girl- working procedures in GAME’s Playmaker ticipation rate from 25 percent in 2016 and friend groups and on finding a space for culti- Program. 2017 to 38 percent in 2018. It is great to see vating girlfriend relationships. Girls get put in how we are able to achieve the desired effect the driver’s seat to define the activities, which Throughout 2018, 150 Playmakers, 153 chil- by focusing directly on the issue we wish to are not necessarily connected to a particular dren, 68 parents and 41 collaborators parti- change. This shows that the methods we are sport. Parent involvement is also something cipated in development workshops, inter- using, together with our volunteers, partners that will be prioritized highly on the innova- views, tests and observations, and have con- and colleagues, really have potential," says tion ladder in 2019 in GAME.  tributed significant inputs for formulating Marie Traasdahl Staal. new concepts that will strengthen GAME’s Playmaker Program. In the fall of 2018, an GAME has used widely different methods, ASPHALT workshop went to Beirut in order from drilling down into existing research to include Lebanese GAME Playmakers and about girls, young people’s lives and sports, to staff in the design process. observing groups of girls in their daily life, in- terviewing teachers and club workers, setting "Innovation must take place all across the up inspiration workshops with young girls, whole organization so that knowledge and talking with parent groups and visiting wom- ASPHALT-project is a collaboration ideas do not only come to fruition in Volls- en’s cafes to talk about girls and after-school between GAME og Steno Diabetes Center mose and Gellerup in Denmark but also in activities. Copenhagen. Beirut, Amman, Hargeisa and Accra," says The project is funded by Novo Nordisk Marie Traasdahl Staal, Head of Innovation Marie Traasdahl Staal explains some of the Foundation, Ministry of Culture and and Social Programs in GAME. findings: Innovation Fund Denmark. 18 Female participation in GAME has increased. This is partly DESIGN PRINCIPLES due to role models such as Maymi Asgari and Dalia El Dira- wi, who are Playmakers in Aarhus, Denmark. In order to get more girls to the football practices, they have chosen to run In the ASPHALT project GAME has identified practices only for girls. It makes the girls feel more secure. five principles that are rooted in the designer’s Photo: Marianne Hjort working methods which can help create real innovation.

PRINCIPLE 1: EAR TO THE ASPHALT The way to create innovative solutions is to understand the Good relations with and involvement of parents, but also needs and dreams of those who will use the solutions when local schools and institutions, is key to strengthening the local created. In this case, kids and youth. communities, their unity and in this way giving the community as a whole a resilience towards challenges.Here, mothers from Vollsmose, Denmark, are giving input on how GAME PRINCIPLE 2: PLAY WITH THE IDEAS can involve parents in the work in the GAME Zones. Here it is all about putting on your thinking cap and com- Photo: Caroline Bohn ing up with as many new, weird, different ideas as possible. The most important thing is to play with the ideas, turn them upside down and build on others’ ideas.

PRINCIPLE 3: TRY THE IDEAS OUT, MAKE MIS- TAKES AND TRY AGAIN Spend as little time as possible behind a desk. New ideas must be tested quickly on a small scale to find out how they work in reality.

PRINCIPLE 4: TAKE IT TO THE STREETS New good ideas need to get out and live in reality. The biggest challenge with good ideas is often to scale them up, spread them out and watch them live in the real world.

PRINCIPLE 5: CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE The last and most important principle is to ensure that the idea actually brings about the social change that it was put in the world to create.

19 GAME • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SELECTED EXAMPLES OF HOW PLAYMAKERS, EMPLOYEES AND PARTNERS IN GAME HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN 2018

20 GOAL 3: Good GOAL 11: Sustainable Health and Cities and Well-being Communities 85% 72% of participants in Denmark and Jordan of participants and Playmakers in Denmark, achieved skills in GAME they can use in Jordan and Lebanon feel safer in their local other contexts of their lives. area after starting in GAME.

In 2018, GAME Lebanon won two awards for efforts to increase the amount of publicly 70% available meeting places in Beirut, Where today, public meeting places account for less of participants and Playmakers in GAME than 0.8 m2 per capita – significantly lower Zones in Denmark practice sports more after than the 9 m2 recommended by UN Habitat. starting in GAME.

GOAL 5: Gender GOAL 16: Peace, Equality Justice and Strong Institutions 33% 80% of the participants in GAME's activities of Playmakers in Denmark have become more across countries were girls, and in 2018, motivated to participate in volunteer and civil 44% of the 4,474 members of the GAME society work after starting in GAME. House Copenhagen were girls.

All GAME Playmakers in Jordan and Lebanon have received training in gender 79% equality and 90% believe it is important to work for gender equality. of participants and Playmakers in Denmark, Jordan and Lebanon have become better at resolving conflicts after starting in GAME.

GOAL 10: Reduced GOAL 17: Partnerships Inequalities for the Goals

GAME works with a partnership model where our activities are based on formalized part- 85% nerships with municipalities and other public of participants and Playmakers in actors, civil society organizations, commer- Denmark, Jordan and Lebanon have cial actors and users. made friends with a different background than their own after starting In all countries where methods and impact in GAME. are scaled, this is done in collaboration with local implementing partners, which are All the Playmakers in GAME have been supported via technological platforms and a trained to use sports as a tool to break strong focus on mutual knowledge sharing down conflicts between cultures. and involvement.

21 GAME • PLAYMAKERS AS INTERNATIONAL ADVOCATES

Beijing Design Week • Ghetto Games conference in Latvia • The People's Democratic Festival in Denmark • Launch of GAME in Jordan • ‘Youth in Development’ conference in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Clara Lyng Bloch and Vinh Quang Nguyen are GAME Playmakers. In November 2018, they participated in the Ghetto Games conference in Riga, Latvia to talk about how youth-led PLAYMAKERS ARE street sports can make a social change in underserved neighborhoods. THE BEST GAME AMBASSADORS

Souhail Benaouisse Abdeddaim is a GAME’s Playmakers are young volun- for the local Chinese kids out on the asphalt Playmaker in Denmark. At ‘The People's teers that run weekly street sports ac- and during the evening they participated in Democratic Festival’ he participated in tivities for kids in underserved neigh- panel debates and networking events, telling several debates on volunteerism, youth borhoods. But they are also the best their stories to an international crowd of pro- leadership and on how we bring more advocates for youth when civil society, fessionals. They really hit the mark. Through youth into sports communities. governments and private sector gath- the five-day design week, they were sought er to solve challenges in the world. out by many people who wanted to ask them about the volunteer work they did, about the In GAME it is important to talk with youth impact of GAME and about what they like and not about youth on their role in creating about GAME," Simon Prahm says.  a better world. This is why GAME’s Playma- kers often are on stage when GAME is invited to talk about youth leadership and youth involvement. Youth is very engaged and possess significant change making resources. According to GAME’s CEO Simon Prahm, it’s important to listen to and involve them.

"We always try to open up the opportunity to have our Playmakers contributing when GAME is invited to participate in conferences around the world. Because they ARE GAME! At the end of the day, the best way to make people understand what our activities are all about is to hear from the people who make them happen," says Simon Prahm.

In September 2018 GAME was invited by Copenhagen Municipality to participate in Beijing Design Week in China, to talk about how street sports can be used to strengthen the social fabric in the urban design of a city. Simon Prahm was accompanied by Rodwan Aden and Marianne Hjort - two of GAME’s dedicated Playmakers.

YOUNGER THAN THE OTHERS Though GAME’s Playmakers are often younger and less experienced than other speakers at conferences Simon Prahm never doubts that they are the best GAME ambassadors.

"Rodwan and Marianne who joined me in Beijing were considerably younger than the rest of the participants, but they wowed everyone and made people listen," Simon Prahm explains about the Playmakers’ role.

"During the day they put on sports activities 22 At the request of the Mayor of Beijing and the Mayor of Copenhagen, in the Autumn of 2018, GAME’s CEO, Simon Prahm, took two Playmakers, Marianne and Rodwan from Denmark to share their vision of social urban impact at Beijing Design Week. STREET SPORTS BETWEEN BEIJING’S CHIMNEYS

By Marianne Hjort, GAME Copenhagen-based Playmaker

hen we design our cities, I, as a citizen and a GAME Playmaker in Copenhagen, find it important that we at the same time create public spaces and innovative sports facilities where all of us can meet up despite of background, religion and Wsocial status. Therefore I was thrilled to join the Beijing Design Week to talk about GAME’s innovative sports facilities and facilitate youth-led street sport in public spaces under the subject: 'Living is Giving – Give Community a Space to Unfold'.

Standing in the middle of an old industrial area in Beijing 40,000 square meters in size, it can be difficult to picture a GAME House by transforming an old industrial building to an innovative sports facility or using asphalt areas as public space to exercise street sport. So I decided to share my Copenhagen Sunday routine with all the curious visitors of this year’s Beijing Design Week.

A MELTING POT OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND BELIEFS Every Sunday I hop on my bike and in my head go through the drills that I picked out for the upcoming street football practice. The city is buzzing as I drive through. Parents with to-go cups of something are enjoying the sun with one eye on their little ones running around. Two girls are hanging upside down from a parkour installation. Two elderly men are playing chess on the Playmakers Rodwan Aden and Marianne specially designed tables. Hjort were in Beijing to talk about how youth-led street sports can contribute to ‘Superkilen’ (literally, ‘The Super Wedge’ because of its shape), one of the most iconic public the cohesion of a city. They met with spaces in Copenhagen, is a melting pot of different ages, backgrounds and beliefs, which makes Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Minister of Culture, Mette Bock, and Mayor of it hard not to smile when passing by. Copenhagen, Frank Jensen. The bike path leads me to Mjølnerparken, an underserved area of Copenhagen. Here the local kids are waiting for me to help them activate their public space. One of them yells: “look, Mari- anne, I practiced last week’s drill, I know how to do it now!”

STREET SPORTS IN THE MIDDLE OF BEIJING Back in Beijing in the 40,000 square meter asphalt area of crossing pipelines and retired chimneys, I’m wearing my 'We Love Asphalt' t-shirt. The asphalt under my feet feels the same as it does on Sundays in Mjølnerparken in Copenhagen – ready to be used for sports as a vehicle for social change. Just like the rest of my Playmaker colleagues do at their weekly practices in Denmark, Ghana, Jordan, Lebanon and Somaliland.

And what does it take to put up activities outside a gas tank in an urban area in Beijing? Well, not much: A portable hoop, basketballs, footballs, skateboards and a block rocker.

Suddenly I find myself in great company when activating the area for the local children and youth. The Crown Prince of Denmark, the Danish Minister for Culture and the Mayor of Co- penhagen drop by when participating in the opening of the Beijing Design Week Guest City Exhibition.

WILL THE HOOPS AND BALLS BE HERE AGAIN TOMORROW? None of the local kids know the foreign VIP’s dropping by, but they sure know the universal language that comes along with sport. By one simple question I know they want more: “Will the hoop and balls be here again tomorrow?”

After days of putting up street activities for local kids and young people, participating in presen- tations of innovative sports facilities and sharing the belief in youth-led street sport in public spaces – I’m more convinced than ever before:

When we design our cities, it is important that we at the same time create public spaces and innovative sports facilities, where all of us can meet up regardless of background, religion and social class.

23 23

VOLUNTEERS PLAYMAKERS

VOLUNTEERS PLAYMAKERS GAME DENMARK • GAME HOUSE AALBORG

GAME House Aalborg is the result of a collaboration between Aalborg Municipality, the Danish foundations Realdania, Det Obelske Familiefond, TrygFonden, Nordea-fonden, The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities and GAME. JAJA are architects. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj - COAST

GAME DENMARK • DANISH PLATFORM FOR STREET SPORTS • INVOLVING GIRLS • MICRO GRANTS

Don’t Give a Fox is a group of girls who have received micro grants from the Danish Platform for Street Sports for their project and passion: Girl Skate. Photo: Kaspar Astrup Schröder

30 MICROGRANT MECHANISM FOR YOUTH STREET SPORTS IDEAS

Is it possible, using a quick, non-bureaucratic setup, to jumpstart the potential that street sports and its passionate souls have? That is the question GAME asked, together with 30 other street sports initiatives, back in 2014. With a grant from the Danish Nordea-fonden the answer was a resounding Yes! The Danish Platform for Street Sports as a micro grant mechanism now turns hundreds of youth ideas into reality by capturing their ingenuity.

The support from the Danish foundation, Nor- port from the Danish Platform for Street dea-fonden, of 2 million EUR over 3 years, Sports is the skater community, 'Don’t Give The Platform has made it possible for GAME to help 525 a Fox'. Their goal is to get more girls involved ideas, events and new street sports actors take with skateboarding through workshops for has a special wings with micro grants, advice and support. girls only. focus on getting

The impact from the Platform in 2018 shows "The Platform has a special focus on getting more girls out on that there is a huge need for support for the more girls active in street sports so we can the asphalt so passionate souls in the street sports commu- combat the distortion we can see in street we can combat nities. In 2018, 152 street sports projects were sports right now. To achieve this, we need given grants for a total of 469,000 EUR. This strong role models and partners who share the distortion has created a hotbed for new sports commu- the same vision," says Semir Ćatović, Man- we can see in nities and has generated attendance numbers ager of the Danish Platform for Street Sports. of 152,404 across Denmark in 2018 alone. street sports NEW GIRLS’ NETWORK WILL INVESTI- right now. "Street sports is what’s happening! So we are GATE HOW TO GET GIRLS INVOLVED happy to give this push to all the creative, The goal for the Platform for Street Sports - Semir Catovic, Manager of the passionate souls who are working hard to is to support self-organized street communi- Danish Platform for Street Sports in GAME get new activities going and to create new ties through micro grants, knowledge sharing communities for kids all over Denmark," says and consultant assistance so that the social, Henrik Lehmann Andersen, director of Nor- health and creative potentials of street sports dea-fonden, which is supporting good ways can benefit as many as possible - especially can skate in advance or are a novice. of living. girls. The members of ‘Don’t Give a Fox’ do what MORE GIRLS CAN TAKE PART The Platform will, continuously, have net- they love; they skate and share it with others, According to the report 'Involvement of Girls', working meetings to figure out how to get but they are also important role models and by the University of Southern Denmark, more girls involved in street sports commu- inspiration for other girls. more boys than girls get involved in street nities and development of new methods of sports. The Danish Platform for Street Sports engaging girls. "We can pass on some fearlessness to some has conducted an evaluation that shows that girls, and we especially try with the younger only 13 percent of those attending the activi- ROLE MODELS AND FEARLESSNESS girls to bring them along and make them ties are girls. But street sports and street cul- Among others, ‘Don’t Give a Fox’, has re- feel safe. And also make them feel that the ture have something for everyone. ceived support for Girl Skate Days, which are skate hall is theirs. And hopefully also inspire skate events only for girls. The most impor- other girls to join," says Sofie Ekerdine from One of the initiatives that has received sup- tant thing is that you have fun - whether you ‘Don’t Give a Fox’.  301 DANISHPLATFORM FOR STREET SPORTS APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

In Denmark in 2018, GAME initiated a new partnership with the Sports Confe- deration of Denmark and DGI. The new national partnership focuses specifically 152 on young people and street sports and has been named ‘Movement for Life - Street SUPPORTED PROJECTS OVER Sports'. The three organizations see a great potential in a strong, common effort for THREE APPLICATION ROUNDS street sports to create a diverse sports movement and ensure that more people will become active in sports.

Nordea-fonden supports the Danish Platform for Street Sports with 2 million EUR 152,404 over a period of 3 years. The goal is to reach 300,000 people with street sports in the ATTENDANCES period 2018-2020. 31 GAME DENMARK • PLAYMAKER PROGRAM GAME HAS GIVEN ME A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THE WORLD

For two years, 20-year old Esmat Najibi has been leading GAME’s street football practices in an underserved neighborhood of Viborg, Denmark. He was recently chosen as Playmaker of the Year in the Playmaker Program in Denmark. This was not something he imagined could happen when he fled from Afghanistan to Denmark in 2009.

Every Friday, Esmat Najibi puts on his over Denmark that he understood that it was We learn about GAME t-shirt. He teaches kids to play street about much more than just football. much more than football in a way that ensures that it is not just football here. just those kids yelling the loudest that get to "I said yes to becoming Playmaker in GAME decide everything. That was how it was when when I found out that the instructor training For instance, it’s he was growing up in the neighborhood Elle- was about much more than football. It gave also about conflict konebakken in Viborg, Denmark. me a new way to look at the world," says Es- management. This mat Najibi. "We played football, and then there were has helped to shape fights. There wasn’t anyone who could con- It was especially the combination of sport my personality and trol us. It was just us. It would have been and conflict management that caught his at- taught me to tell the better if there had been someone to help us, tention. difference between so it wasn’t always the one yelling the loudest in the group and on the field who called the "We learn about much more than just foot- right and wrong. shots," explains Esmat Najibi. ball here. For instance, it’s also about con- - Esmat Najibi, Playmaker in GAME flict management. This has helped to shape Zone in Viborg MORE THAN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING my personality and taught me to tell the There was not much to do for Esmat and difference between right and wrong. Now, I Something he can use on the football field, his friends in Ellekonebakken. This is un- understand the difference, and how we can in the school and when meeting new people. fortunately reflected in the criminal records influence each other with what we do and say. of some of those with whom he grew up. In I use this at practice when I see a conflict," "I did not notice it at first, but I have become 2017, an after-school program worker intro- Esmat Najibi explains. better at talking to people in a way that they duced Esmat Najibi to GAME’s Playmaker understand. I talked a kind of street talk be- Program. Esmat said yes to giving it a try, but TRAINING AFFECTS SCHOOL WORK fore. I don’t know where it came from. Now, it was only when he went to the Playmak- According to Esmat, he has found something I have gotten used to talking with kids and er Camp with other young people from all at GAME that he did not find anywhere else. parents at the street football practices. That 32 has changed a lot in relation to my school, uate the previous practices and find inspira- GAME DENMARK 2018 like when I am presenting something to the tions for new drills together. class," Esmat explains. 33 GAME ZONES But it is not only about football and football Everything that Esmat Najibi has learned at practices. Esmat Najibi is also a role model. the Playmaker Camp in Copenhagen, he has taken back with him to his GAME Zone in "One of the children told me that he was 217 PLAYMAKERS Viborg. bullied in school, but he didn’t know how he should react to it because he was afraid that "It is great at the Playmaker Camp. I learned it would make problems. He didn’t dare talk a lot without even noticing it. You think: 'I about it to his parents -- only to me. I am, in 41% FEMALE PLAYMAKERS can do that yes, yes.' But now I can see that that way, kind of a big brother. It gives me it works to talk pedagogically to kids. I try to a good feeling inside when I can give advice put myself in their place and to think about and help to make someone else’s world bet- how I would have liked the adults to speak ter," Esmat explains. 18,045 to me when I was younger. Not by shouting, ATTENDANCES because you know very well when you have When Esmat Najibi is not on the playing done something wrong," he says. field, he dreams about moving to Aarhus, a larger city in Denmark, and studying to 38% FOOTBALL COACH AND ROLE MODEL be an engineer. He hopes that this will co- FEMALE ATTENDANCE And the practices are certainly popular incide with when his little brother can take when you see that up to 25 kids take part in over the Playmaker role in the GAME Zone them. Esmat plans the practice program in Ellekonebakken in Viborg when he moves, 78% the break times and lunch hours at school, so that, also in the future, it will not be those OF KIDS IN GAME ZONES together with his Playmaker colleague Omar, yelling the loudest on the playing field who THAT HAVE MADE NEW who goes to the same school. Here they eval- get to call the shots.  FRIENDS IN GAME

Esmat is chosen as Playmaker of the Year 2018 in Denmark. Among other things, because of his special contact with the children, which contributes to a social change and fun for children, families and the entire local community. Photo: Marianne Hjort GAME'S PLAYMAKER PROGRAM IN DENMARK GAME’s Playmakers are young volunteers who are making a difference for children and young people in underserved neighborhoods or in GAME’s indoor facilities. They do this by arranging weekly practices in street basketball, street football, street dance, parkour or street fit. With a block-rocker, balls and cones, GAME’s Playmakers arrange practices in 33 GAME Zones in Denmark.

The GAME season culminates when the Playmakers bring the children to GAME Finals at the GAME House in Copenhagen once yearly. There, the teams from the different neighborhoods compete in street football and street basketball and the dancers show what they have been practicing this season at a big dance show.

The Playmaker Program consists of two annual weekend camps. At each camp, the Playmakers meet with other young people from all over Denmark. They receive training as instructors in street basketball, street football, street fit, street dance and youth leadership. Conflict management, teamwork and empowerment are also parts of the program.

The Playmaker Program is for young people who are at least 16 years old, and it is free. The young volunteers receive a Playmaker certificate when they have completed the camps and have been active in their local GAME Zones for at least one year.

In the GAME Zone in Sonderborg, Denmark, Playmakers arrange practices in street football and street dance every week. Photo: Marianne Hjort

33 GAME DENMARK • GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN • URBAN MUSIC MUSIC IS A GREAT UNIFIER

Street sports are GAME's tool for Music has always been an important part ple street basketball or breakdance. And it social change, but music has al- of GAME because it sets the tone for all works both ways: the ball-playing members ways played an important role for GAME's activities both in the GAME facil- of GAME have the opportunity to learn rap the organization. Hip-hop, RnB, ities and on the streets. Hip-hop music and and beats from scratch. rap and DJ'ing are all part of the culture have been part of the foundation of street culture and at GAME House the GAME House in Copenhagen. We see more Copenhagen, music is part of the activities you can participate in as "We see more and more young people want- and more young a member. ing to use music to express how they feel and people wanting to tell their stories, and a facility like this has Since 2010, GAME House Copenhagen has the power to give them a voice," Reva Hagins to use music to run Denmark’s only vinyl DJ-school, where explains. express how they members can learn to mix, scratch and cut. feel and to tell The DJ school and sound studio are open for PARTNERSHIPS CREATE CROSS-OVER the members to use, and many hopeful up- Part of the GAME Houses' success is their their stories. coming and also well-known Danish rappers, work with local partners, projects and insti- - Reva Hagins, Facility Manager such as DJ Noize, Turkman Souljah and Pede tutions. of GAME House Copenhagen B have worked in the DJ school and taught in the sound studio. One of the excellent partnerships is between According to Reva Hagins, this results in fan- the GAME House and BAGLANDET - a tastic crossovers between the different street Reva Hagins, Manager of GAME House rap school for children and youth who want cultures and unique possibilities for creating Copenhagen, has a dream of expanding the to learn to rap or produce beats, write lyrics, new communities. DJ school to include a mix of the old turnta- perform live and record in a studio. bles and the new DJ controllers. The vision is One of the kids going to the Urban Mu- to build a GAME Urban Music School which BAGLANDET uses GAME House Copen- sic School is Magnus. He is an example of can showcase what the GAME Houses can hagen's studio for their rap school, which how GAME House can facilitate a positive do: unite street cultures, create new commu- means that the attending children and young change and a cross-over between street sport nities and lower the threshold for taking part people also get introduced to other activities and street culture. Meet him in the article on in both street sports and street culture. that the GAME House offers - for exam- the opposite page.  GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN 2018

MEMBERS

ATTENDANCES

FEMALE MEMBERS

OF THE MEMBERS FEEL LIKE PART OF A GREAT- ER COMMUNITY AT GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN

OF THE MEMBERS ARE MORE ACTIVE IN SPORTS AFTER STARTING IN GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN

HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS WITH A DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS THAN THEIR OWN

34 Photo: Marianne Hjort

13-YEAR-OLD MAGNUS SHOWS WHO HE IS THROUGH MUSIC Among computers, heavy keyboards and boxes with big headsets, 13-year-old Magnus Lindenhann produces beats and tracks every Tuesday evening. He is part of the Beat Production class at the GAME House in Copenhagen.

Every Tuesday, Magnus Lindenhann meets time. But I started to like it, and it gradu- "It is nice. I learn a lot while I am having a five other young people who want to learn ally became more exciting for me," Magnus good time, and one of the reasons is because the tools and techniques of making beats and explains. I don’t think that it is a school. Even though developing their own sound. the word “school” is part of the Rap School’s While doing parkour, Magnus could feel the name, it is still just a great place to be, with Today at the Beat Production class in GAME change in himself and he still can see the ef- great people," he says. House in Copenhagen, they will learn about fects of this today: beats with intro, verse and chorus. The goal HAS BECOME MORE EXTROVERT of today’s instruction is to create a three-mi- "I became more social after I started in the According to Magnus, he has learned a lot nute beat that they play for each other and parkour program and I also became more by going to the GAME House in Copenha- get feedback on. active and stronger. Now I do running, but gen. He had to quickly learn how to interact I still do a lot of parkour, in the breaks at socially with strangers, and that has been "We experiment with different genres and school, for example," Magnus says and ela- good for him. learn to sample. You take a part of a song borates: and put it into your own song, add some "I have also started to go to another af- drums and change it up a little. You can get "I’m better at doing hand swings and if there ter-school activity, where I can hang with the something wild out of that," Magnus Linden- are, for instance, some parallel bars, I feel other kids, and I have become more extro- hann explains. like doing some leg swings or hand-walking." vert and happier because of this. Anyway, I am just enjoying life," he says. FROM PARKOUR TO PRODUCING DOESN’T FEEL LIKE SCHOOL Magnus’s acquaintance with GAME started After doing the parkour course in the GAME When asked about his dreams for the future, long before Beat Production. In 2016, he was House in Copenhagen, Magnus was hooked Magnus has no doubt. part of a parkour program at GAME togeth- and wanted to try some other activities. His er with fellow students from Solbakken – a choice was GAME’s Rap School and, later, "The best thing about Beat Production is school in Copenhagen for children with spe- the Beat Production class. meeting people and that you can show who cial education needs. you are through the music. I have all kinds of In the rap school he is learning about the dreams about being on stage. That motivates "In the beginning, I thought it was pretty history of hip-hop and is being taught how me to make more music, because I am think- boring, because I had never been interested to rap, rhyme and write his own lyrics. But ing I want to hit top of the charts," he says in parkour and I was not very active at that it never feels like boring school work for him. with a huge smile. 

35 GAME DENMARK • FRIENDSHIPS ON ASPHALT • PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES WHEN THE KIDS HAVE FUN AT PRACTICE, THAT IS THE REWARD

Daniel Hundahl is one of GAME’s some form of sports community - football, I think it is enorm- many volunteers. He is on the as- badminton or handball. He would very much phalt every week to make a diffe- like to pass this experience on to others. ously important rence for children with psychoso- to build sports cial challenges via street sports. "The sports communities that I have been a The sports community has been part of have meant a lot to me. That is why communities important in his own life, and that I want to help these kids to become part of for children and is why he is now helping children one," Daniel says. and youth become part of it. young people The goal of Friendships on Asphalt is that who do not fit into Most children in Denmark do sports, but par- children with psychosocial challenges be- ticipation in sports can be a bewildering proj- come more motivated for being active in traditional clubs. ect for kids who have psychosocial challenges. sports and that they become a part of the - Daniel Hundahl, volunteer That is why GAME started the Friendships positive communities sports can offer. But for Friendships on Asphalt on Asphalt project. Daniel Hundahl is a vol- first they get to feel secure in a non-competi- unteer here. tive invironment that makes it more manage- able for the children. "I think it is enormously important to build sports communities for children and young Daniel Hundahl has a PhD in sports and people who do not fit into traditional clubs. that, combined with his own positive expe- That is why I said yes to becoming a volun- riences with sport, makes him confident that teer in this project at GAME," says Daniel he knows what physical activity with others Hundahl. can bring.

ZOMBIES AND NINJAS AT GAME HOUSE "In general, the sports experience has many At parkour practice, there is a special focus positive qualities that can contribute to de- on play and success experiences. And then, veloping us and have a positive effect going suddenly, the kids and the volunteers turn forward in our lives. On the purely physical into ninjas and zombies who are climbing, level, the brain produces the neurotrans- hopping and running around each other in mitter dopamine, which makes us feel happy GAME House Copenhagen. and satisfied," Daniel explains.

"When I can see that the kids are having fun THE KIDS HAVE MADE PROGRESS during practice, then that is its own reward Even though Daniel has only been part of the for me," says Daniel Hundahl. project for three months, he already notices that something is happening with the chil- And, if it sometimes does not function well, dren who participate in the parkour project. or there are difficulties at practice, then he is ready to help the zombies and support the "I can clearly see that they are making prog- ninjas so they are ready for the next chal- ress and are able to do more from one prac- lenge, which will help them to have a good tice to the next but, first, they had to feel experience with sports. secure about the framework, the instructors and us volunteers - and that, of course, takes It is not at all by chance that parkour was time," says Daniel and explains how he works chosen to be the focal point in the Friend- with the kids: ships on Asphalt project. Parkour is a flexible and scalable sport without built-in elements "I try to meet them where they are, talk to of competition. This means that everyone, them, and show that I am interested in them. regardless of their level or physical condition, If they talk about something from their can participate in the same practice. It gives school, daily life, or parkour, something they more room for friendships and diversity. think is difficult, then I give them an example of something that I also find hard, and what IMPORTANT SPORTS COMMUNITIES works for me in such a situation," Daniel Daniel has, for his entire life, been a part of Hundahl concludes.  36 sports. Parkour is obvious as a method because the sport is both flexible and scalable.

Friendships on Asphalt, like GAME's other work, takes as its starting point an empowerment approach, where the focus on social communities and inclusiveness is crucial to sport's positive potential for change. The children participate in the practices together with professional educators or teachers from their school. Friendships on Asphalt is a development project that aims to lower the threshold for "This project actually came as sent from sport participation by tailoring parkour prac- heaven. Our students have mostly had bad tices to children and adolescents aged 11-15 experiences with sports activities. We would with psychosocial challenges. really like to help them with an alternative to the computer, which many of them otherwise The project is supported by VELUX FON- turn to when they come home from school," DEN and the Danish Health Authority and says Kristoffer Strengsholt Gøgsig Holms- focuses on developing a method for keeping berg, who is a teacher at one of the special the children in physically active leisure life education schools in Aalborg participating in even after the tailor-made course has ended. the project. To anchor the sport in the children's lives, The project Friendships on Asphalt is both peer-to-peer volunteers and educators After the street sports course at GAME, supported by VELUX FONDEN and or teachers from the schools and institutions the participants go through an eight-week the Danish Health Authority. from which the children come from are at the bridge-building course, which supports the

same time an active part of the project. children in continuing their regular sports The project is implemented in partnership between GAME and the parkour participation. organization Street Movement, LOS Friendships on Asphalt started in 2018 with (the Danish National Organization a pilot course in GAME House Copenha- The project furthermore includes a peer- for Social Services), The Danish gen. The process tested various methods to-peer element. This means that among Psychiatry Foundation, The Social for recruiting participants and volunteers the volunteers there are young people who , Network/Headspace Denmark and the project starts in earnest in 2019 in themselves have had psychosocial challenges VIVE (The Danish Center for Social both GAME House Aalborg, Copenhagen, in their lives and therefore more easily relate Science Research), and the municipalities of Aalborg, Copenhagen, Esbjerg and Viborg in Denmark. Most of to the children's challenges in feeling com- Esbjerg and Viborg. the children enrolled in the Friendships on fortable in regular sports clubs and facilitate Photo: Marianne Hjort Asphalt project lack good experiences with access to a sport community for them. 

37 GAME DENMARK • GAME HOUSE ESBJERG • FRIDAY JAM

t is like it all comes together on the first big hall. Friday of the month. The members show up. The volunteers show up. The "Sharing the area has worked out great. We Iemployees are there. All the activities in kind of turned it into something positive that the house are going full blast. And the music, we had to dedicate the space in the hall to of course. skating, parkour, street basketball and street football on different days. The result has been Friday Jam is a meeting place for everyone more ballplayers in the facility - and a com- connected with GAME House Esbjerg. It is pletely unbelievable level of support from the on the first Friday of every month and every skater scene for doing something temporary activity in the facility goes on turbocharge. in the big hall until we open the skater area Street basketball, street football, dance, park- again," explains Robert Hansen, who is the our, skateboarding and scooting. Sometimes, interim manager of GAME House Esbjerg. there is also street art on the program. Or a fuβball tournament. Or a rock/paper/scis- sors challenge. It depends on what the members want and what the staff feels like. We use Friday "It is important to do something extra for the Jams to have some members now and then. And it must be really fun. We also use Friday Jams to have some more children and more children and young people to join in young people to activities they have not tried before and get join in activities some friendships going between the different they have not groups. That is an important goal for us," 71% explains Jeppe Kongerslev Pedersen, who is tried before and OF THE MEMBERS FEEL LIKE PART OF a junior coordinator at GAME and part of get some friend- A GREATER COMMUNITY AT GAME the team in the reception area, who greets all ship going be- HOUSE ESBJERG the members and helps them with a thousand different things. tween the different groups. 65% HAD TO MISS TWO FRIDAY JAMS - Jeppe Kongerslev, Junior Coordi- OF THE MEMBERS HAVE MADE NEW However, it has happened twice that the nator in GAME House Esbjerg FRIENDS members of GAME House Esbjerg had to do without this popular event. In October 2018, GAME House temporarily closed down be- FRIDAY JAM VISIT IN NEIGHBORING cause of a ceiling problem: Esbjerg munici- GAME HOUSE 54% pality made an examination of the area and Friday Jam is an event taking place on the OF THE MEMBERS PRACTICE SPORTS found mold there. first Friday of every month and at the same MORE AFTER STARTING IN GAME ESB- time in all GAME Houses in Denmark: Aal- JERG Mold must be taken seriously, and the whole borg, Copenhagen, Esbjerg and Viborg. Be- GAME House Esbjerg was closed until the cause of the temporary closure and nowhere municipality could do more tests. Everything to arrange a Friday Jam, GAME House Es- except the skating area opened again in Feb- bjerg filled a bus with members in February 52% ruary 2019, and, until the roof in the skat- 2019 and drove to Friday Jam at the GAME HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS WITH A DIF- ing area has been renewed, street basketball, House in Viborg. This was an extraordinary FERENT BACKGROUNDS THAN THEIR football, skating and scooting will share the experience for members of both Houses.  OWN 38 Female participation is a focus in all of GAME's activities. One of the tools to motivate more girls to participate in street sports is female role models. The most important learning in GAME is that the girls have to be invited into the activity - that they are asked if they want to join. In GAME House Esbjerg, 36% of the attendances are female. Photo: Heiður Erla Þormar GAME HOUSE ESBJERG 2018 2,969 MEMBERS 32,163 ATTENDANCES 36% FEMALE ATTENDANCES

39 GAME • GAME HOUSE VIBORG

GAME House Viborg is the result of a collaboration between Viborg Municipality, the Danish foundations Realdania, the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities, TrygFonden, Nordea-fonden and GAME. EFFEKT are the architects. Photo: Heiður Erla Þormar

GAME IN PICTURES

ROSKILDE FESTIVAL GAME was, once again, at Roskilde Festival in Denmark with activities for everyone, because sports, music and friendship belong to everyone. Street basketball, beach volley- ball, dance battles, mixed with show battles and hip-hop DJ's, were on the program as GAME teamed up with the telecommunica- tion company 3 in the 3GAME area.

PLAYMAKER CAMP DENMARK The Playmaker Program consists of two annual weekend camps. At each camp GAME's Playmakers meet with other young people from all over the country and receive training as instructors in street basketball, street fit, street football, street dance and in youth leadership. About 100-150 young role models participate in each camp.

THE YOUTH DEMOCRATIC FESTIVAL Valby Park in Co- penhagen formed the setting for two days ISCA AWARD of speeches, music, In 2018, GAME won ISCA's ‘Movement and workshops when Space’ award with the campaign ‘Looking GAME took part in For a Place to Dream’. The campaign's goal the Youth Democra- is to involve youth in advocating for access tic festival. GAME’s to public spaces where they can meet and Playmakers fired play sports. up under GAME’s GAME IN PICTURES street sports challenge and participated in debates about youth involvement in community, volunteer work and gender equality.

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD GAME's International Advisory Board consists of a number of international capabilities that support and advise GAME in the work of scaling GAME's methods internationally, including former US Ambassador to Den- mark, Rufus Gifford.

OPENING OF GAME HOUSES AALBORG AND VIBORG In 2018, GAME opened the doors to asphalt-paved street sports facilities in Aalborg and Viborg. An old laboratory hall and a windmill factory hall were transformed into living, inclusive meeting places where kids and youth can meet around street sports and street culture. GAME House Viborg and Aal- borg is the result of a collaboration between the Viborg and Aalborg municipalities, the Danish foundations Realdania, TrygFonden, Nordea-fonden, The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities, Obelske Fami- liefond and GAME. 42 LAUNCH OF THE PLAYMAKER PROGRAM IN GHANA GAME is launching a new project in Accra, Ghana. GAME has teamed up with the like-minded partner, DUNK Grassroots, to jointly implement GAME'S methods to the youth of Ghana to empower them to increase their social participation by training to be role models and volunteer street sports coaches for local children. GAME Ghana is supported by CISU, a program from the Danish Foreign Ministry. PLAYMAKERS MEET CROWN PRINCE Autumn 2018, two of GAME's Playmakers and CEO Simon Prahm participated in Beijing Design Week. On the trip, they shared GAME’s vision on transforming old industrial buildings into creative new sports facilities, about the importance of public spaces for street sports, as well as GAME’s Playmaker program for young volunteers. His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Frederik, the Min- ister of Culture, Mette Bock, and the Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen stopped by, as well as a lot of local children and young people who were ready to play street sports.

PLAYMAKER CAMP SOMALILAND 56 young people took part in GAME's first Play- maker Camp in Hargeisa in Somaliland at the beginning of February. The annual Playmaker camps will equip Somaliland’s youth to conduct practice sessions in their local areas, helping NGO ADVISOR them to create positive changes for themselves In 2018, GAME took another step up the and for local children and youth. The goal in NGO Advisor list, which selects the world's Somaliland is to build greater social cohesion, best NGOs. GAME moved from number 179 and empower local youth through sports. in 2018 to number 141 in 2019. The list is made up based on criteria such as innovation, sustainability and results. GAME was recognized to make progress on all parameters.

FOCUS ON GIRLS IN SOMALILAND Together with the local partner, SOCSA, GAME works to get more girls into street sports. Here GAME's International Partner- ship Manager, Matthew Gray, meets with the leader of SOCSA, Khadra Kalil. SOCSA offers education, support entrepreneurship and access to safe and secure settings for sports for girls and women in Somaliland.

STREET GAME All children and young people who love street sports are invited to local GAME Zones’ Street Festivals under the open sky when Street GAME hit numorous GAME Zones with tournaments in street basketball and street football, mixed with dance perfor- mances, street art and hip-hop DJ’s.

43 GAME IN PICTURES

EU MIES VAN DER ROHE AWARD GAME House Viborg was in 2018 shortlisted for the prestigious European ‘Mies Van der Rohe Award’. This award is presented every two years for the recognition and reward of architecture of a particular quality. GAME House Viborg is designed by EFFEKT Architects.

BOOKING AND CONFERENCES IN GAME HOUSES The GAME Houses in Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Aalborg and Viborg are perfect for meetings, conferences, events and workshops. The uniquely renovated industrial buildings provide a raw, asphalted framework for events.

COPENHAGEN STREET FESTIVAL GAME and many other partners from the street community hold the Copenhagen Street Festival once yearly. Here, the most popular street activities are gath- ered under one roof. Everyone is invited to try out the best of street culture in the form of workshops, battles and tournaments.

THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC FESTIVAL GAME participated once again in the annual Peoples's Democratic Festival on the DIY WORKSHOPS IN LEBANON Danish island Bornholm. There was action Young Playmakers participated in a 'do-it- on the asphalt, happy vibes and lots of sun- yourself workshop' to create a welcoming shine when the people and their politicians space for their weekly practises. This helps took up the gauntlet in GAME’s street sports create a sense of ownership and responsibil- challenge. GAME and Playmakers also took ity towards the facilities that make up Halba part in debates and conversations about civil GAME Zone. Halba is one of three highly society, health, volunteer work, social change marginalized areas, where GAME builds and sports. social cohesion between refugees and host communities with the support of the British Embassy in Lebanon.

GAME FINALS BEIRUT Happy winners on a hot August day in Beirut. This year's GAME Finals in Beirut brought 700 active participants from all over the country to celebrate the street sport. A grant from Erik Thunes Legat and sponsorship from Puck - Arla's primary brand in the Middle East - made it possible.

44 SOMETHING TO DO ON HOLIDAYS GAME is arranging street days in GAME House Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Aalborg and Viborg with a lot of different street sports activities for children and young people during school holidays. All of the activities are free, and you can try street basketball, parkour, hip-hop street dance, street football, nail art, panna and much more.

GAME ZONE SHATILA GAME Lebanon's most visited Zone is in Shatila, Beirut. On average, 296 Palestinian and Syrian children living in the Shatila refugee camp attend training every Saturday morning. Of these, 38 percent are girls, which is close to GAME's goal of 40 percent girl participation.

GAME FINALS IN ALL GAME COUNTRIES GAME Finals is an annual event in GAME. The children from the country’s GAME Zones meet and BEYOND SPORT AWARD compete in street basketball, street In 2018, GAME Lebanon won the Beyond football or join street dance workshops Sport 'Innovation and Tech Award' with the and shows. GAME’s Playmakers 'Looking for a Place to Dream' campaign. accompany the children whom they The winners are recognized for having some are training on a weekly basis in their of the best and most innovative projects us- local neighborhoods. Here is a panna ing sports as a tool for positive social change. tournament at GAME Finals in GAME Denmark.

STREET SPORTS DAY The Danish Street Sports Day is an annual event where passionate people from all over the country invite their local communities to give street sports a try. The idea is to get more children and young people to be active at the street level, and maybe even to come up with new ideas to get people active on the asphalt. Micro grants for Street Sports Day can be applied for from Danish Platform for Street Sports.

JOGGING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER Marie Traasdahl Staal, Head of Innovation and Social Programs in GAME, had an untraditional Monday morning, when she was went jogging with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The morning started with a nice jog around Lyngby Lake, followed by breakfast, and an informal talk on GAME's work.

45 GAME IN NUMBERS

7% 12% INTERNATIONAL: 454,537 EUR GOVERNMENT: 282,663 EUR

12% EARNED INCOME: 585,876 EUR

INCOME FOUNDATIONS: 1,857,358 EUR 23% 4,049,321 EUR MUNICIPALITIES: 948,886 EUR

46%

3% 19% OTHER ACTIVITIES: 101,294 EUR 6%

ADMINISTRATION: 226,055 EUR

DK PLATFORM FOR STREET SPORTS: 802,955 EUR

PLAYMAKER PROGRAM: 802,417 EUR 20% COSTS 4,035,389 EUR INTERNATIONAL: 410,745 EUR

FACILITIES: 1,691,922 EUR

42% 10%

4,059,155 EUR 4,049,321 EUR

2,869,146 EUR 2,297,339 EUR

INCOME INCOME INCOME INCOME 46 2015 2016 2017 2018 FEMALE ATTENDANCE 2018

36% 38% 32% 34% 34% 32% 28% 23%

13% * 152,404

ATTENDANCES GAME 2018

41,007 34,683 31,107 30,090 32,163

18,045 10,658

1,075 GAME DENMARK GAME HOUSE AALBORG DKPLATFORM FOR STREET SPORTS GAME JORDAN GAME HOUSE VIBORG GAME HOUSE COPENHAGEN GAME HOUSE ESBJERG GAME LEBANON GAME SOMALILAND

47 * GAME is indirectly involved through funding and consulting implementing partners FINANCIAL STATEMENT • BALANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

2016 2017 2018 INCOME EUR EUR EUR Ministries 580,033 703,223 459,092 Municipalities 688,620 766,602 948,886 Other local funding 30,814 24,566 12,735 Membership fees and payments 133,332 74,206 178,165 Event income 106,429 23,622 10,397 Rental income 141,591 236,203 168,354 Sponsors 77,719 71,049 61,059 Foundation and grants 1,062,915 2,057,005 1,135,466 Other income 61,493 102,679 75,167

TOTAL INCOME 2,882,946 4,059,155 4,049,321

EXPENSES Personnel 1,416,943 1,544,272 2,329,376 Buildings 203,421 178,124 139,078 Miscellaneous activities 321,863 484,742 258,860 Playmaker education 56,693 68,821 76,803 GAME Zones 42,858 50,765 153,974 Street GAME 68,950 65,032 87,728 GAME Finals 39,986 52,021 43,573 Activities in the Middle East - - - Friendships on Asphalt - - 40,729 Exchange - 7,615 5,364 Street sports facilities 95,593 652,295 5,960 Development and research - - 137,871 Knowledge sharing 7,427 4,971 19,213 Communication 48,920 80,056 121,339 Funds 422,204 564,941 457,346 Administrative costs 103,646 208,641 158,176 TOTAL EXPENSES 2,841,489 3,962,298 4,035,389

RESULT 41,456 96,857 13,932

48 BALANCE

2016 2017 2018 ASSETS EUR EUR EUR Inventory 1,945 6,512 6,547

Total receivables 150,321 185,570 713,047 Liquid assets 1,001,192 2,246,020 1,173,958

Total current assets 1,153,458 2,438,102 1,893,551

TOTAL ASSETS 1,153,458 2,438,102 1,893,551

LIABILITIES

Total equity 252,486 348,135 363,934 DEBT OBLIGATIONS Providers of goods and services 32,979 2,580 3,321

Other debt 108,386 134,399 202,216

Advance payment 759,607 1,955,569 1,324,081 Debt obligations 900,973 2,089,967 1,529,618

TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,153,458 2,438,102 1,893,551

49 ABOUT GAME

GAME is a fast growing, innovative NGO street sports facility in an abandoned railway recognized as one of the world’s 150 best depot in Copenhagen. Today, this facility is NGO’s. Founded in 2002 in Denmark with a headquarter for street sports and culture a mission to create lasting social change in Copenhagen and the first of four GAME through youth-led street sports and culture, Houses that all has partnerships and user in- GAME establishes innovative facilities and volvement at their core. trains youth-leaders as instructors and role models in street sports and civil society. In 2016 , Esbjerg’s oldest industrial building underwent a transformation from a loved, The young volunteers, Playmakers, lead but dilapidated Danish State Railway depot practices in street basketball, street football, to a raw, asphalted facility for street sports street dance, and parkour in underserved and street culture, GAME House Esbjerg. communities throughout Denmark, Ghana, Jordan, Lebanon, and Somaliland. Viborg and Aalborg are the newest members of the GAME House lineup. A worn The goal is bridging divides and overcome down laboratory and an old windmill facto- conflicts ry is now transformed into living, inclusive places where kids and adults meet for street GAME PLAYMAKER PROGRAM sports and culture. GAME House Viborg GAME trains local youth to become volun- was in 2018 shortlisted for the prestigious teer GAME Playmakers. The training pre- EU Mies Van der Rohe Award. pares young people to lead weekly practices in street sports and street culture events. STREET SPORT MICRO GRANTS Empowerment, life skills, teamwork, gender GAME supports youth entrepreneurial equality, and civil society is part of the Play- street sports initiatives, events and ideas via maker training. GAME Playmakers serve as micro grants in Denmark and Jordan. role models in underserved, marginalized communities and they are an important GOING FORWARD part of the social change that GAME works In 2019 GAME is starting up the GAME toward. Playmaker Program in Greece, Italy, Lithua- nia, Malta, and Tunisia. GAME HOUSES In 2010, together with the Municipality of For more, visit Copenhagen, Denmark, GAME opened a GAME.NGO THANK YOU FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT ! GAME.ngo weloveasphalt weloveasphalt GAMEinternational.ngo GAMEdenmark GAMEinternational GAMEinternational