Niel Janssen – Speaker at the 20th EFDN Conference
Niel Janssen, Foundation Lead at KRC Genk, is a confirmed speaker at our 20th EFDN ‘Making Football Matter’ Conference in Athens from the 13th until the 15th of November 2023.
His professional career started back in school as a self-employed student. After his studies, his marketing agency grew into a team of three. As with many start-ups, the covid pandemic had a drastic impact. As a result, he took up another challenge as a freelancer with an international company. After this contract ended, he joined KRC Genk as community coordinator. After less than a year, he was given the confidence to also write the policy plan and take final responsibility as Foundation Lead.
KRC Genk is one of the shortlisted clubs for the More than Football Award 2023 with their KRC Young Dementia Café. With this initiative, they hope first and foremost to give people facing this terrible disease a place where they can be themselves without inhibition. It will include lectures, workshops and gigs. But fellow sufferers can also enjoy numerous activities: from cards, board games, darts to pool. Every obstacle they encounter in daily life is removed for them at the KRC Young Dementia Café. With this project, they also hope to convince other football clubs and organisations to help make (young) dementia discussable.
During the conference Niel will give a 15-minute presentation about this project. The winner of the More than Football Award 2023, to be decided by a voting system, will be announced at the Gala Dinner in the Acropolis Museum at Tuesday 14th of November.
”It may be fairly common, but my best moment is mainly receiving the warm reactions at projects. This is all part of being able to experience the power of football. You put society in action with it.”
Niel Janssen, about his best CSR moment in football
