Improving lives through the power of sport

Play for Change (PFC) aims to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children around the world through the power of sport.

PFC is the official charity partner of the Women's EHF FINAL4 and has been the referee shirt sponsor since the beginning of the 2014/15 season. The charity's logo has been seen on 150 top referee pairs in over 1,500 national and club team matches each season since the partnership began.

Thanks to the generosity of the EHF and its fans at the 2015 Women’s EHF FINAL4, PFC raised enough funds to develop the first sporting and educational programme in the District of Lamjung in Nepal - one of the worst affected areas of the 2015 earthquakes which left children homeless and vulnerable.

In November 2015, PFC started rebuilding playgrounds across 14 villages and 37 schools in the district. This gave children opportunities to participate in sport in a safe environment, and PFC provided coaching training to teachers and parents.

PFC and the EHF have now changed the lives of more than 3,100 children. In a country where opportunities for girls can be limited, it is highly significant that 52 per cent of the children enrolled are female.

PFC has also helped improving employment in the communities, training and employing more than 450 adults.

After the success of this first pilot project, PFC has subsequently secured further funding to expand this programme across the entire district and beyond, with the goal to provide access to safe water and sanitation to these schools.

Going forward, PFC will continue its work in improving the lives of children through the power of sport. This year’s fundraising effort will help develop more sports programmes in the most deprived areas and communities of Europe.

These programmes will combine handball sessions to improve health and well-being whilst providing employability and life skills workshops to equip the younger generations for a brighter future.