GENEVA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese sportswear company ANTA Group has announced that it will extend its cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for another three years to continue implementing the international humanitarian program "Moving for Change."
Christina Li, vice president of ANTA Group, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the initiative reflects the growing sense of responsibility among Chinese enterprises as they increasingly participate in international humanitarian assistance.
ANTA's announcement was made at the recently concluded 2025 Global Refugee Forum Progress Review held in Geneva, Switzerland. UNHCR's data shows that over the past three years, the program has benefited more than 300,000 displaced children and young people across Africa.
Explaining the original intention behind launching "Moving for Change," Li said ANTA aims to help children and young people who have experienced or are still facing hardship gain equal access to education and enjoy the benefits of sports.
"Through the program, we not only provide material support, but also place strong emphasis on expanding access to basic education," Li said. "We firmly believe that every child - regardless of skin color or nationality - should enjoy equal rights to education. We hope to explore a public welfare pathway that integrates Chinese experience with international practice."
Recalling her visit in September 2025 to the Bambasi and Sherkole refugee camps in Ethiopia, where she organized a friendly football match for children, Li said the experience was deeply moving.
"On the football field, I saw vitality, solidarity and smiles," she said. "Although these children have experienced displacement, their expectations for the future and for a better life are no different from those of any child in the world."
Li said the value of sports for refugee children goes far beyond physical fitness. "Sports can help them temporarily forget trauma, find a sense of belonging within a team, and rebuild a sense of order through rules," she said. "They teach cooperation, perseverance and respect, which are essential for rebuilding lives in the future."
According to ANTA, a new batch of donated supplies has recently arrived in Kenya, while another shipment totaling 400,000 sports items will soon be delivered to refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Mekelle, Ethiopia. ■
