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Urban Rookies Powered by Constant Vanden Stock:
First Fundraising Gala a Great Success
On Saturday, November 30th, the Urban Rookies (powered by Constant Vanden Stock) team organized its first fundraising gala at the Edmon Machtens Stadium of RWDM.
The evening was a great success.
The gala evening began with a tribute to the Vanden Stock family, the inspiration behind the new foundation.
Julie and Claire Vanden Stock, the granddaughters of Constant Vanden Stock, each received a portrait of their father, Roger Vanden Stock, created by renowned photographer Stefan Van Fleteren.
Roger Vanden Stock, the former president of RSC Anderlecht, was, along with his wife Kiki, the founder of the RSCA Constant Vanden Stock Foundation, the predecessor of Urban Rookies.
During the gala, the first initiatives of the foundation to combat school dropout in Brussels through sport were presented to the 136 guests in attendance.
VUB Professor Dimo Kavadias introduced his study, which mapped the youth in Brussels. Our first partners, Stade Everois, FC Ganshoren, Brussels Volley, and the nonprofit Kids & Family were also introduced to the guests.
On Saturday, November 30th 2024
David Steegen, CEO Urban Rookies
"If you don’t treat the youth well, you have no future." Johan Cruyff
Cruyff often emphasized the importance of education for the future of youth & sports.
The Brussels-Capital Region is one of the youngest regions in Belgium and Europe.
This offers many advantages. A large part of the talented youth from the Brussels-Capital Region can be mobilised to combat aging in other regions.
Unfortunately, nearly 8% of young people in Brussels leave education prematurely.
The “Urban Rookies Powered by Constant Vanden Stock” Foundation wants to contribute by tackling school absenteeism in Brussels through sports.
Specifically, this means that “Urban Rookies” will collaborate with sports clubs from various disciplines and provide solutions for young athletes to keep them in school and engaged with their clubs so they can grow into respectful and responsible citizens.
Follow-up in education will be organized together with experts.
Practicing sports in clubs connects young people and provides a framework for youth from all possible backgrounds. Moreover, Brussels sports clubs embrace the super-diversity that is characteristic of Brussels. Young people from different backgrounds come together in clubs, they win and lose together, and they learn to deal with authority and mutual respect.
“1/3 of households in Brussels live in poverty. I owe a lot to my city. My multilingual education — whether in school, on the street, or in the football clubs where I played — has enabled me to develop my skills and build a fascinating professional career by embracing super-diversity as a Brussels resident and becoming a responsible citizen.
THE AMBASSADORS
THE AMBASSADORS
