June 2, 2025

Youth Fund Volunteer Day 2025: 760 kids and 120 volunteers!

On Monday, May 26th, the second annual Youth Fund Volunteer Day took place during the Games at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. It was a special day where 120 volunteers from our corporate partners and supporting organizations experienced the impact of sports firsthand. They dedicated themselves to giving 760 children from 12 primary schools in neighborhoods with high poverty rates an unforgettable Olympic sports day!

Remy Bonjasky wakes everyone up

Who better to ask for a volunteer warm-up than kickboxing legend, three-time K-1 champion, and Youth Fund ambassador Remy Bonjasky? He understands the importance of sports like no other: "Sports offer so much. It stimulates your motor skills, makes you mentally and physically stronger, and makes you increasingly mature. Besides that, sports are also a lot of fun. You learn to work together as a team."

In no time, all the volunteers were jumping for joy, literally and figuratively! After the children arrived, followed by a flag parade and a dance performance by Armin Jafari of Global Dance Center, the day truly began: Remy lit the Olympic flame together with one of the children.

Discover sports: from BMX to kickboxing

The children enjoyed various sports activities: BMX, athletics, kickboxing, Afrodance, and more. Kids who had never ridden a BMX before raced like pros. The kickboxing session was filled with the proud faces of children learning their first hook.

Youth Fund partners make a direct impact

For the volunteers through our partners, this was a unique opportunity to experience the impact of their support firsthand. The Youth Fund pays for the membership and dues for the sports and cultural club – something you can't simply experience behind the scenes as an employee of a partner. But now they could see firsthand the impact sport has on children. From "I can't do that" to an enthusiastic "look what I can do!"

More than a sports day

For the 760 kids, this was much more than just a school day out. This was their chance to discover what they're good at, to try sports that might otherwise be out of reach. Experience the energy of the kids and volunteers who were busy in our aftermovie:

All Youth Fund partners: thank you! Your support not only makes this day possible, but also our daily work: ensuring that all children and young people can participate in sports and culture, even if money is limited at home.

ABN AMRO | AIMS IMPROVE | Allianz Direct | BNP Paribas | CITIUS Attorneys | Deployteq | Dirk van den Broek | FWS I Global Dance Center I Global Nederland | ING | Youth Fund for Sport & Culture Amsterdam | Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment | National Postcode Lottery | NOC*NSF | Pon I TOWN HALL creative agency | Rabobank | Remy Bonjasky | Scapino | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | TK MAXX | Univé | URBZ Capital | Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles | Friends Lottery.

Want to know more about the Games? Go to www.despelen.nl: an initiative of NL Cares.