Welcome United 03

Project Details

For many years, the supporters of SV Babelsberg 03 have had close contact to local refugees. They cook, eat, celebrate and - of course - play football together. In July 2014, the SV Babelsberg 03 decided to initiate a team especially for refugees. The first test match took place in Berlin only four days after the team had been founded. Currently, around 40 players from different parts of the world come together to practice every week. The name of the team is „Welcome United 03“, whereby the word „Welcome“ stands for „openness“: the team is supposed to be open to every refugee, no matter what performance level. One of the players has already accomplished to become the goalkeeper of the second professional team, and in summer of 2015, "Welcome United" will be the first refugee-team to participate in the official league-system.

Integration of our players is an important issue to us. We want our players to feel welcome and safe and hope that by creating positive feelings, they feel enabled to interact with their new surroundings more easily. Contact to locals emerges during test and friendly matches, and with fans and players of other clubs. But there also is – of course - a close connection with the supporters of SV Babelsberg 03. „Welcome United 03“ will keep growing in the future. Besides football games, they currently work on an exhibition, which is meant to inspire other clubs to focus on integration through sports as well. Above all, the club wants to share their experiences and convey to the visitors the message that refugees are an enrichment to our clubs and societies.