United by football – Kick & Unite: the universal language of sport
The project promotes the physical and mental well-being of children and teenagers through football as a vehicle for enjoyment and social inclusion.
The United by Football – Kick & Unite project, led by the Eni Foundation, the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) and Next Salute e Servizi, aims to promote the physical and mental well-being of young people in Rwanda, Egypt, Italy and Angola by using football – one of the world’s most widely played sports – as a universal language to overcome barriers related to gender, geographical origin, cultural background and age. Launched in December 2025, the initiative will run until 2027.
Project objectives
The initiative has two main objectives:
- to develop local technical and sporting expertise by actively involving young people and local sports coaches, helping to build a sustainable sports ecosystem recognised as both a professional and a social asset
- to enhance the resilience and physical and mental well-being of the young people involved by valuing diversity, strengthening transferable skills, and promoting an educational environment based on inclusion, respect and non-discrimination.
Project development
The initiative is divided into in successive phases across Rwanda, Egypt, Italy and Angola, following a progressive approach based on engagement, consolidation and local empowerment.
In 2027, sports and training activities are scheduled to begin in Angola. At the same time, distance learning, monitoring and data collection will continue in Rwanda and Egypt, as will activities in Italy – these too will be monitored and will include the collection of data on the events and training activities already launched in the first year.
Once the consolidation activities are complete, in the second half of 2027, the project will conclude with a sporting event involving the young people reached by the project in Italy and sports trainers from the other countries. This will be the culminating and symbolic moment of all the activities carried out and a celebration of the results achieved.
The project in pictures
An overview of the activities carried out in the country with young people and sports coaches, including training sessions, activities on the pitch, and the delivery of certificates for the technical and methodological training programme provided as part of the project.
Images from the day held at the Selinunte Stadium in Milan, where children and teenagers took part in sporting activities designed to promote inclusion, participation and well-being.
The beneficiaries of the project
The project’s direct beneficiaries are young people aged 12 to 21 living in vulnerable socio-economic contexts in Rwanda, Egypt, Italy and Angola, along with their coaches and educators. The indirect beneficiaries are their families and communities.
First results achieved
The first field mission took place in Rwanda from 2 to 7 March 2026: the classroom-based training sessions and practical sports activities involved 29 local sports coaches and 67 young beneficiaries. The mission included the distribution of sports equipment and opportunities for dialogue with the local community, involving AIC’s technical and educational staff and the beneficiaries. Following the field activities, follow-up and monitoring meetings were organised to consolidate the technical, educational and interpersonal skills developed by the sports trainers.
The project is aligned with WHO recommendations and the 2030 Agenda for the sustainable development
The initiative aims to promote the physical and mental well-being of young people, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Like the Eni Foundation’s other projects around the world, it also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda, in particular Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages).
