Born to Moroccan parents in the Netherlands, Achraf Agarmaoine is giving back to his community by focusing on children. Through his foundation, he supports youth through sports, mentorship, and community engagement, helping shape a new generation of confident young role models. Achraf Agarmaoine. / Ph. DR ‹ › It takes a village to raise a child, and parents are not the only ones involved in that mission. Achraf Agarmaoine, a 25-year-old Moroccan born in the Netherlands, believes his foundation is part of that village. Raised in Harderwijk, a small town between Utrecht and Zwolle, he is giving back to his community with a strong focus on children. Stichting Beweeg naar Toekomst (Move to the Future) was founded in 2022 by Achraf, his twin brother Mohammed, and their friend Hicham. The foundation organizes sports competitions and games, provides tutoring, and, most importantly, builds meaningful connections between children and adults, role models they can look up to. «We organize school and after-school programs: football, kickboxing, volleyball, dodgeball, educational workshops, and mini-games», among others, Achraf told Yabiladi. Most activities take place outdoors, in addition to the foundation's building, where indoor sessions, team meetings, and discussions about social issues are held. Beyond simply getting children to move through sports and games, his goal is to help them grow. «When children feel supported, they open up, make mistakes without fear, and grow faster», he explained. From Volunteer Work to a Full-Time Mission Achraf himself needed that support growing up. The son of parents from Midar, near Al Hoceima, who immigrated to the Netherlands to build a new life, he admits he was «not an easy child». «I attended a special school because of my temperament», he recalls. But he had a role model who kept him going, his older sister. «She believed in me, pushed me to stay ahead, and taught me that growth comes from effort», he said. That experience inspired him to study social work at Hogeschool Utrecht and later volunteer. Before launching his foundation, Achraf volunteered with the Richard Krajicek Foundation, which motivates youth in deprived urban areas in the Netherlands to develop an active and healthy lifestyle. After completing his degree in social work, he was selected for a local government-backed community program aimed at strengthening neighborhoods, called «District Spot». It involved organizing Sunday activities and small events for children. «I had already been active in the neighborhood, so I chosen, and from there everything grew step by step». After his one-year project ended, he launched the foundation. Achraf was inspired by initiatives such as the Johan Cruyff playgrounds, another Dutch foundation promoting sports in low-income neighborhoods. «It was never the plan to build a foundation, it just evolved naturally from a hobby into full-time work» he said. More Than Just Sports Five years later, the foundation has become a full-time job for Achraf. It now counts 11 staff members and around 35 volunteers. In addition to organizing activities, the team focuses on creating and training role models, young people who can professionally lead programs and organize events. Volunteers support events, school outreach, and community initiatives. «We also do social work, supporting children struggling at school or in daily life», he said. The foundation also organizes charity initiatives, including projects in Morocco and fundraising efforts for children in Gaza. «Sports help children develop, but caring adults matter more», Achraf insisted. This is why the foundation is now placing greater emphasis on involving parents. «Understanding families helps us support children better», he said. Most of the children involved in the foundation's activities have a migration background, but recently more Dutch children have joined. «What I love is that children don't focus on background, they focus on who you are. There's a lesson in that for all of us». Achraf's project is funded by different organizations that believe in its mission. «At first, everything was volunteer-based, but as we grew, we needed financial support», he explained. Outside his foundation work, Achraf enjoys playing football and spending time with his family. Recently, his team, mostly of Moroccan background, traveled to Morocco, where they reconnected with their roots while also strengthening team bonds and working on the organization's future plans.
