Dream Championship: Where Sport and CSR Meet

The power of sport for the future: Provident Financial Ltd. and the Hungarian Interchurch Aid have jointly launched the Dream Championship program, which creates opportunities for development and community building for young people living in disadvantaged communities. The soccer tournament offers new opportunities for participating children not only on the field, but also in other areas of life, according to a statement by Provident.

The long-standing cooperation between Provident Financial Ltd. and the Hungarian Interchurch Aid has reached another exciting milestone. The Dream Championship, a soccer tournament and training program, is a sporting event that is about much more than goals, jerseys and balls… It can bring real change to the lives of disadvantaged young people.

The path of hope
Eight teams will compete in the Dream Championship: participants will come from the north-eastern and south-western regions of the country and will compete in two age groups (8-10 and 11-14 years old). The program also includes a three-month intensive preparation period, followed by regional tournaments and then a final in Budapest.

"We believe that sport, especially football, develops skills that can be useful in all areas of life. This program is not just a soccer tournament. It is an opportunity for a better future," the CEO of Provident Financial Ltd., Viktor Boczán said.

More than just a game
The Dream Tournament is not simply about developing physical abilities and soccer skills. The main goals of the program are to promote social integration, a healthy lifestyle and talent development. The young participants not only learn to play soccer, but also acquire important and fundamental values such as teamwork, perseverance and discipline.

László Lehel, president and director of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, emphasized: "The Dream Championship fits perfectly with the aid organization's work to create opportunities. Through sports, we develop skills that help young people meet social and workplace expectations."

László Miklós Károlyi, who coaches the teams at the Hungarian Interchurch Aid's Presence Points in northern Hungary, emphasized: "In addition to being a healthy activity that is accessible to children from disadvantaged families, sport teaches regularity and increases self-confidence. It builds the personalities of children from poor families supported by the institutions and helps them to succeed in society later on."

Éva Bús Bódis, head of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid's center in Vizsoly, highlighted the community-building effect of soccer as a team sport: "football brings children together, friendships are formed and the sense of belonging becomes a personal source of strength in the difficulties of everyday life. Sport teaches children to follow rules and the championship sets goals, the joint achievement of which also develops the children's long-term resilience."

The Dream Championship does not end with the autumn final. The long-term goal of the program is to provide young people from disadvantaged regions with opportunities for development and advancement year after year. Provident Financial Ltd. pays special attention to social groups living in difficult financial circumstances. and through the ‘Invisibles’ program, for example, it wants to help those who are unable to save money due to their limited living conditions, those who are excluded from traditional financial services due to their age or financial situation and those who have not received adequate education to make responsible decisions about their finances.

The cooperation between Provident and the Interchurch Aid proves that collaboration between the financial sector and the civil sphere can bring about real change. The Dream Championship is not just a sporting event, but a step towards a more just and inclusive society where every young person has the chance to realize their dreams. Over the past two years, Aid Organization staff have launched financial awareness training in 18 municipalities for members of low-educated and low-income social groups, with Provident experts providing the necessary professional background material.