11th EFDN Conference hosting partner KAA Gent presents all social sides of the club
Wim Beelaert, coordinator of the KAA Gent Foundation is proud to be the hosting partner of the 11th EFDN Conference. It provides the club and the foundation a unique opportunity to present all social facets of the club. The KAA Gent Foundation is a well respected innovative force, both in Gent’s sports environment and in the local community. The Belgium first-division club is an organisation with a social purpose with a distinct social commitment: the KAA Gent Foundation.
Since 2009, KAA Gent Foundation has been a unique public-private collaboration between Gents Pro League Football Club (KAA Gent), local authorities (Stad Gent, OCMW Gent and Gent Stad in Werking) and the KAA Gent Supporters Federation. The organisation develops and supports a large number of projects that are beneficial for the society, youth football and solidarity between the club, local residents and supporters.
The basic mission of the KAA Gent Foundation is supporting and organising social and emancipatory projects for underprivileged groups. Using the social power of football, KAA Gent and the Ghelamco Arena, the KAA Gent Foundation brings people together and strengthen all sorts of skills, that people need to be able to function in society.
Community outreach programmes and stadium accessibility
KAA Gent develops and supports a large number of projects benefitting society, youth football and solidarity between the club, local residents and supporters. A few examples of community projects: the Buffalo Cup school football tournament, social football for the homeless (KAA Gent Homeless Blue White), employment care for psychiatric patients (Buffalo Bustels), campaigns against homophobia, discrimination, racism and much more.
The social activities from KAA Gent Foundation are also reflected in the excellent accessibility of the stadium for people with a physical disability and the encouragement of sustainable supporter transport. Under the motto Velo Buffalo, around 2,000 KAA Gent supporters arrive at the stadium by bike for every match.
In addition to a presentation of the club’s social programmes and activities, all conference attendees can visit one of the three different study visits to see and experience the social power of the club in the city of Gent themselves.
