Athlete-Friendly Education Centres (AFEC)
IB Sports & Study
What AFEC means
In accordance with the IB®, AFEC certification allows the school to welcome engaged student-athletes, providing them with flexible IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) timetables that ensure the balance between the demanding sports schedules and academic achievements.
AFEC Numbers
Athletes
Schools
Countries
Athletes
Schools
Countries
The advantages
Balance between sports & education
Possibility to complete the MYP and attend the intensive sports trainings
Option to complete the DP over 3 years, instead of 2
Athlete Certificate
Student-athletes also have the opportunity to attend a five-module course that aims to provide an understanding and the skills needed for young students to become successful and knowledgeable athletes. The contents have been designed by experts in the field and are overseen by representatives of international federations:
- Support Team & Relationships
- Values & Integrity in Sports
- Health & Wellbeing
- Social Media & the Media
- Your Journey as an Athlete
Our students-athletes
Belal Attout
Showjumper
Showjumping is my passion. I began to ride horses when I was seven years old, but my love for horses started way before that. I bought my first horse when I was nine years old and this was when I started to compete. I started to win a lot of competitions through the season, including first place at the finals in Egypt.
This was one of my biggest achievements, but I did not stop there. I set my goals even higher: I worked hard to achieve the same results the following year, I won first place at the finals for the second time in a row. It was at that time that I understood I wanted to be a professional showjumper and compete all over the world. In the showjumping field, Europe is the place to build yourself, you learn and compete way more.
That is why I came to Italy: to compete internationally, to be coached by top trainers and have the possibility to ride different horses. My goals here are to improve my level in showjumping and to compete in a lot of international competitions. Hopefully this gives me the opportunity to be a professional showjumper in the near future.
Carlotta Banchi
Skier
When I was 3, I started skiing down the slopes of Sestriere, at first trained by my father and then by a ski club that initiated me into competition.
In my sport career, I have often qualified for national competitions (Pinocchio sugli sci), passing provincial and regional selections in both slalom and giant slalom.
Since I attended primary school, I have always managed to combine training and competitions with school tasks, despite facing sacrifices and difficulties. I was also able to nurture my passion for Bocconi’s mathematical games, where I ranked first for my school in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Francesca Banchi
Skier
When I was 3, I started skiing down the slopes of Sestriere, at first trained by my father and then by a ski club that initiated me into competition.
In my sport career, I have always qualified for national competitions (Gran Premio Giovanissimi, Pinocchio sugli sci, Alpe Cimbra/Folgaria and Zoncolan), passing provincial and regional selections in both slalom and giant slalom.
During the 2021/2022 season, I was invited to the “Top 50” competitions held in Pila (Aosta Valley), based on the Children Series ranking of the best 50 skiers in Italy by category, where I ranked 10th in the giant slalom.
I began this season with provincial qualifications, where I ranked 4th in giant slalom (Memorial Roberto Marino) and 4th in Sestriere. In addition, I’ve gained a 6th and a 7th place at the Alpe Cimbra regional selection in Bielmonte in giant slalom and special slalom, thus obtaining the qualification for the national race again.
Since I attended primary school, I have always managed to combine training and competitions with school tasks, despite facing sacrifices and difficulties
Niki Eminefendic
Tennis player
I am a tennis player from Italy, I am 11 years old and I have been playing tennis since I was 5.
I am ranked 4.1 in the National Tennis Federation.
When I was 7 years old, I participated in my first national team competition, and I still do it.
Since I was a kid, my team and I have preferred to set solid technical and tactical bases rather than playing in lots of tournaments.
In 2021, I started to take part in both national and international tournaments. I won 3 prizes in the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) competitions. Besides that, I have also won the regional masters tournament in November 2021.
Now it is time to move on to the next level, to achieve a status in national and international Tennis Europe tournaments.
My final goal is to become a top 10 professional tennis player ranked WTA. However, now I am focused on the steps to get there.
I have a strong motivation to turn the sport I love into my career.
Bring it on!
Matous Krulich
Soccer player
I joined FC Torino U17 and WINS in 2021. This was a challenging step dedicated to developing further my football skills to get one step closer to my dream of becoming a professional football player. WINS has been a great choice because it provides a proper international education for students who are also athletes.
Since a very young age, I could not stop running, and running with a ball was a natural evolution. At the age of five I started to play football in a local football team, Kopanina, and then I was spotted by one of the best football teams in Czech Republic, Sparta, rising in their youth ranks. When I was part of Sparta team, I trained hard and became one of the key players, as a striker. In 2020, I became a player in the Czech national team U16 and in 2021 I decided to join FC Torino as my next big career step. Football has helped me to become more independent and a responsible teammate.
Combining academic education, football and learning Italian requires a lot of dedication and commitment. It is an exciting journey and with a positive attitude and enthusiasm everything is possible.