Playing handball isn’t a given for the girls of Sierra Leone. Quite the opposite. Neither is access to the means needed to do so. That’s why hummel will be donating handball equipment to the HAND project – Handball for A New Destiny – as part of the Player of The Match award at the 25th IHF Women’s World Championship.
As the official sponsor of 25th IHF Women’s World Championship in Spain, hummel has once again decided to replace the traditional ‘Player of The Match’ award. Instead, the players are given a direct opportunity to pass on talent and passion for handball by donating hummel handball equipment to less fortunate girls in Sierra Leone after each game at the tournament.
Allan Vad Nielsen, hummel CEO states:
“For the last couple of years, we’ve been proud sponsors of the HAND project – and together with IHF and the world’s best male and female handball players, we’ve been able to donate both handball equipment, handball shoes, and new handball courts to vulnerable girls in Sierra Leone.”
The 25th IHF Women’s World Championship in Spain will mark the third time hummel replaces the IHF Player of the Match award with a special donation to the HAND project. This initiative was kicked off at the 24th IHF Women’s World Championship in Japan in 2019 as well as being an integrated part of the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship in 2021 in Egypt.
“We believe that everyone should be able to play sports. By donating handball equipment to the HAND project and providing the girls with better conditions for playing the sport they love, we hope to break down barriers one game at a time,” says Allan Vad Nielsen.
IHF President Dr. Hassan Moustafa says: “I am proud that the International Handball Federation is partnering with hummel and the HAND project for a third consecutive World Championship. This is a tremendous initiative that will not only continue to grow our great sport but also make it more diverse and inclusive.”
The Project Manager of HAND and Olympic gold medalist Josephine Touray elaborates: “We’re extremely proud and thankful to receive the generous support from hummel once again. The results from previous years have made a huge impact in our mission to improve the girls’ opportunities within handball. Every day we get one step closer, and we’re so grateful to share this journey together with hummel.”
JOIN THE PROJECT AND GET 20% DISCOUNT
At hummel, we believe in dreaming. Because change starts with the ability to dream. We also believe that we are better together. We are one big team. United in our ambition to change the world. And that’s why we invite everyone to join the HAND project.
Use the discount code HAND20 and save 20% on everything at hummel.net. We’ll then donate 10% off all sales generated from the discount code directly to the girls of Sierra Leone.
That’s what we call teamwork.
PHOTO: CHRISTIAN ALS
ABOUT HAND
HAND – Handball for A New Destiny is a project lead by the organization FANT – Football for A New Tomorrow, an organization that uses sports to create stronger civil societies.
Together with local stakeholders in Sierra Leone, 6 new handball clubs have been formed in Sierra Leone – clubs for girls lead by women. By introducing the girls in Sierra Leone to handball and incorporating them into democratic structures in the clubs, the girls become part of a strong and healthy community which over time creates better livelihood for the girls.
For most European girls, stepping into a handball court is a matter of course. But that’s not the case for everyone. For girls in Sierra Leone it would be a dream to just play on a real court. A court without stones and gravel. A court with real goals and real sidelines.
We believe that every handball player should have the right to play on a real court. Handball is for everyone and we want to help create the best opportunities for girls in Sierra Leone. Under the headline “FIGHTS THAT MATTER” hummel has decided to donate 1% of the online turnover in December 2020 to support the HAND project of establish new handball courts in Sierra Leone levelled with cement, accurate lines and two handball goals.
Allan Vad Nielsen, hummel CEO said: “With our mission of changing the world through sport, we’re extremely proud to become a part of this project. Focusing on girls right to do sport and with the aim of creating a handball community where the girls can stand up for themselves and be stronger together, the HAND project fits perfect to the hummel brand.”
“There’s no doubt that what the girls are playing on now is dangerous to their health, and we’re looking very much forward to help create new hope and new opportunities for them to be safe.”
In 2019 the project of HAND was officially created with the aim of advocating and working for the inclusion of girls in handball activities. HAND teaches girls about the rules of the game, gives out handball equipment and lastly establishes handball clubs where the girls meet regularly and are informally educated in democratic principles and human rights.
The Project Manager for HAND and Olympic gold medalist Josephine Touray said:
“In a country like Sierra Leone, it’s not very easy to be a girl. With HAND we’re trying to educate these girls how to speak up and how to participate in democracy in a peaceful and constructed way. We believe passionately in the power of female inclusion in handball to change attitudes, lives, and, ultimately, the world.”
“I can’t even describe what it would mean to the girls, if they got the chance to play on a real handball court for the first time in their lives. It would mean that people respect their wish to play handball and that they’re seen as a part of the community. Hopefully we can make their dream come true together with hummel.”
