- Renate Wagner,
Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE and judge for the Allianz Unity Awards
Our Winners
Meet the champions of the Allianz Unity Awards
Anel van der Merwe – Building inclusion through sport (United Kingdom)
Anel is the founder and vice chair of trustees at F6IT, a grassroots charity in Surrey that creates inclusive sports opportunities for children with disabilities, along with their siblings and friends. Guided by the belief that every child should have the opportunity to play, Anel has spent the past seven years creating an environment where children with disabilities and their families feel a sense of belonging.
With programs like boccia, wheelchair multi-sport, hydrotherapy, and frame football, she and her team of volunteers have built a supportive community that now brings together more than 200 families.
Rosa Sanchez – A haven on the football pitch (Spain)
In Marbella, Rosa Sanchez is more than a football coach – she’s a mentor, a role model and a lifeline for immigrant youth adjusting to life in Spain. Many players arrive without speaking the language or knowing anyone. On Rosa’s pitch, they find not just a team, but a family.
Her approach to coaching goes beyond teaching skills. Rosa uses football to promote respect, inclusion and resilience. She also champions gender equality, inspiring young girls to join the game and believe in their potential. “Football is a universal language,” Rosa often says, and through it, she helps young people feel seen, valued and at home.
Sara Moamen & the Alhalimun team – Hope through sport (Egypt)
Based in Cairo, Alhalimun (The Dreamers) is a Sports for Development project founded by International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leader Sara Moamen Abdelsamie, which empowers refugee and marginalized children through the transformative impact of sport.
Working with youth aged 8–17, the project combines flying disc sports with trauma-informed coaching, mentorship and access to future opportunities. With a team representing over 14 nationalities, many with lived experience of displacement, Alhalimun offers more than sport – it provides hope, healing and opportunity.
On learning Alhalimun had received the Allianz Units Award, Sara said, “This affirms our belief in the power of sport to unite, inspire, and create meaningful change within communities.”
"These local heroes demonstrate that sport is far more than just a game; It plays a powerful role in bridging differences, building connections, and uniting people across cultures, generations, and backgrounds. In an increasingly polarized world, they remind us that unity gives us the strength to jointly build a better tomorrow."
These inspiring stories show that sport is more than a game – it’s a force for unity and positive change.
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