Village League Kicks Off New Season Connecting Youth Villages and Pro Soccer
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The "Village League," a social-educational program by Toto and the Football League Administration, has begun a new season connecting professional football clubs with youth villages across Israel. The initiative pairs professional teams with youth village squads for joint training and mentorship, aiming to impart life skills alongside football development. Toto's CEO highlighted the program's role in building resilient communities through sport, while the Values in Sport Association chairwoman emphasized the integration of sport, education, and values.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The "Village League" connects professional football clubs with youth villages for a new season.
- The program aims to develop life skills in teenagers through sports mentorship.
- Professional teams mentor youth village squads, including joint training and visits.
- Toto and the Football League Administration are key partners in the initiative.
- The program focuses on building resilience and imparting values like leadership and teamwork.
The "Village League," a joint social-educational initiative by Toto and the Football League Administration, in cooperation with the Ministry of Educational Settlements and managed by the Values in Sport Association, is launching a new season. This program connects dozens of football clubs from youth villages across Israel with hundreds of teenagers.
During the season, professional teams from the Winner League and the National League mentor youth village teams. This mentorship includes joint training sessions, visits by professional players to the villages, and opportunities for the youth to attend professional games and training. The goal extends beyond developing future footballers; it aims to equip participants with life skills such as handling success and failure, managing social pressure, perseverance, leadership, self-discipline, goal setting, respect, and teamwork.
Meir Bardugo, CEO of Toto, stated, "Toto is proud to be a partner in another season of the 'Village League.' We all need a supportive, connecting, embracing community, and the Village League is exactly that. It's a tool for creating communities through sport, communities that strengthen personal and group resilience, thereby contributing to national resilience." The project is funded by Toto as part of "Toto's Social Field," which seeks to leverage sports for social change and community empowerment.
Nurit Dabush, Chairwoman of the Values in Sport Association, summarized, "The Village League embodies the connection we believe in between sport, education, and values. The ongoing mentorship of youth villages by football teams allows teenagers to closely interact with sports figures and, more importantly, learn through the game about perseverance, leadership, coping, and teamwork." The league emphasizes that the experience offers valuable lessons beyond the game itself.
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