Xavi & Khalid’s story

“I think it’s important for everyone to feel safe in their own neighbourhood”

Xavi Dors is 14 years old and lives in Amsterdam South East. You’ll be able to find him and his friends on the Cruyff Court in his neighbourhood pretty much every day. Xavi is already committed to helping other children, despite his own young age. He noticed many of his local friends were pretty good at playing football, but didn’t have the opportunity to become members of a football club. And many of them didn’t feel safe in their own neighbourhood. That’s why he decided to set up a foundation which demanded attention to be focussed on safety, for example through the organisation of sports and games.

Meeting with Khalid Boulahrouz

Xavi recently met the former professional footballer and ambassador of the Cruyff Foundation Khalid Boulahrouz. They talked about their dreams, ambition, positivity and the importance of sport and exercise together.

A safe space to play sports and games is incredibly important for all children. Space for them to develop, space to make friends and space where they can improve both their physical and mental health. This unfortunately doesn’t happen as a matter of course for all children. And these are the children for whom the Cruyff Foundation supports and develops sports activities right across the world.

For example, we have Cruyff Courts in deprived areas, we train Cruyff Foundation coaches (Heroes), we support countless projects for children with disabilities and we stimulate sport for refugees through projects in refugee camps or asylum seekers’ centres. You’ll be supporting these activities by raising money for the 14K Cruyff Legacy.