In the learning centre of the Excelsior4all foundation, the community hub of the Excelsior football club in Rotterdam, an after-school programme called ‘Playing for Success’ is organised for children who are not performing as they should. Here, André van der Meijden, business unit manager of VINCI Facilities, hands over the cheque to Niels Redert of Excelsior4all, on behalf of the VINCI Foundation. A festive occasion along with all the children!

Excelsior4all is actively involved in the communities of Rotterdam, helping to improve the living situations of individuals, groups and neighbourhoods. ‘Playing for Success’ is a programme which comprises 13 three-hour meetings with 15 children per day. The participating children may for example have a negative self-image. They follow interactive lessons and learn skills such as perseverance, standing up for themselves, presenting themselves and collaborating.

VINCI Foundation NL is an initiative of all VINCI companies in the Netherlands, as a joint effort by all staff to combat any type of exclusion in the Netherlands, and afford everyone in our society their own place, role and dignity. Would you like to know more? Check out the website.

John Breure, Senior Contract Manager at VINCI Facilities and sponsor of this project, has been actively involved in the Excelsior football club for many years. “I immediately recognised this as a fantastic project which we can support via our VINCI Foundation. It’s great to be able to help Excelsior4all in this way, and especially to provide these children with the extra support which they need so badly.”

That support was welcomed with open arms by Excelsior4all.

“We are delighted with the sponsoring by the VINCI Foundation for even better facilitation of the conditions of our Playing for Success project.” – Director Niels Redert Excelsior4all.

“Thanks to this sponsoring, we can challenge even more children to work at their low cognitive self-confidence, and can raise our programme to a higher level.” – Project leader for Education, Excelsior4all, Iris de Iongh.

‘Playing for Success’ hosts 5 groups per week, which means that 75 children can participate per period. Many of the activities now take place on paper, but could be organised more effectively using ICT tools.