The Team

CGP's new dramatic series, The Team (L'Equipe) has been inspired by the worldwide passion for football. Stories revolve around a diverse group of young footballers who struggle to overcome their differences in order to win the game. Like the footballers, viewers are encouraged to understand one another's differences but act on the commonalities.

On a societal level, the drama inspires the audience to imagine a better future for themselves and for their country. Episodes tackle current issues while the characters model cooperative problem-solving between people from different ethnic, class or religious groups.

About The Team
Written by local writers, audiences can relate to the characters because their struggles are those experienced in daily life. Members of the writing and production teams reflect the diversity of the society in which they live. Besides promoting messages of co-existence, another of the project's goals is to transfer creative and technical knowledge to local writers and technicians.

Our belief is that well-crafted, entertaining programming can have a profound impact on how people think about themselves, their neighbours, and their society. By combining tools of popular culture — television and football — we can promote co-existence.

"The work that Search for Common Ground is doing, particularly through the groundbreaking television project, The Team, matches our aims. Football is a remarkable tool which can break down barriers, foster understanding and teach people valuable lessons…." – Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive, Premier League

"On the football pitch, as in everyday life, cooperation, respect and tolerance are values that will make all of us real winners. The TV drama series, The Team, has managed to capture this philosophy in an informative, entertaining and eye-opening way." – Lord Triesman, Chairman of the English Football Assn.

The series is being produced by CGP and local partners in 10 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It will be broadcast on local television and via satellite. Through outreach and follow-up activities we intend to maximize the effectiveness and sustainability of the series. The project is funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) with match funding from other government institutions/donors.   

Video from The Team

A segment on resolving ethnic differences from the forthcoming L'Equipe episode "Xenophobia."

Photos from The Team

Moment during the recording of L'Equipe in Côte d'Ivoire	L'Equipe Côte d'Ivoire production crew
Recording of L'Equipe	Location shoot of L'Equipe in Côte d'Ivoire
Actors record The Team in Ethiopia	The director and engineer record The Team in Ethiopia

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