Duration: February 1, 2024 - January 31, 2026
Partners:
fairplay Initiative - VIDC (Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation)
IZI (Igramo Zajedno Inicijative)
YIHR (Youth Initiative for Human Rights BiH)

Overview

“Game Changers – Promoting Human Rights and Equality through Sport” aims to improve the capacities and knowledge of sports stakeholders in order to use sport more as a medium to promote human rights, support gender equality, increase the participation of vulnerable groups and develop a strong connection to civil society organizations (CSOs). The project will take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2026 and will be implemented by the fairplay initiative at VIDC together with the local partners Igrajmo Zajedno Inicijativa (IZI) and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR). The project is funded by the European Commission through the European Delegation to BiH.

Main activities of the project

Human rights education and training

With our Train the Trainers Seminar in Ajdinovici (BiH) from May 17 to 20, 2024, we brought together 30 sports coaches, educators, social and youth workers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina to equip multipliers with in-depth knowledge and skills empower them to use sport and address topics such as reconciliation, gender equality and social inclusion in their local communities. The trained coaches conduct ongoing workshops in their communities and support further activities (e.g. Girls Football Festival, Mini-Van-Tour stations) of the Game Changes project.

A training manual was created for the trained coaches, which contains exercises and socio-politically relevant topics with a focus on forms of discrimination (especially sexism and homophobia), stereotypes and gender.

Intercultural youth exchange

Girls Football Festival from January 24 to 26, 2024

More than 80 young female players aged 12 to 16, 16 coaches, 9 clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and a 30-person organizational team came together in Sarajevo to celebrate football, diversity, and solidarity at the Girls Football Festival for three days. Through training sessions, workshops, panel discussions and an international tournament with mixed teams, participants had the opportunity to improve their football skills, share experiences and make new friends. The festival was non-competitive – its main goal was to empower girls and young female footballers while promoting football as a tool for integration, non-discrimination and intercultural cooperation. The festival allowed the girls to grow, learn and create lifelong memories together. Sarajevo became a place of unity and inspiration for the future of women's football in the region.

3x3 Basketball Streetball Tournament July 4-6, 2025

The 3x3 Basketball Streetball Tournament will take place in July 2025 in Sarajevo with 150 participants. The aim is to bring together boys and girls from different backgrounds to promote inclusion and teamwork. Multipliers trained through the train-the-trainer seminar will coordinate mixed teams from all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (including girls, boys, disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities), thus adding to the diversity of the event. Alongside the 3x3 basketball games, the event will offer educational fairplay workshops to promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups and create a supportive environment for all participants, regardless of their background or experience. The central location of the event in the city will have a positive impact on the visibility of the project.

Public awareness and campaigns

European Week of Sport (EWoS), September 2024 & 2025

During the 2024 European Week of Sport (EWoS), the Game Changers project is pioneering the organization of large-scale, inclusive events across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Game Changers has taken a proactive role in expanding the scope and reach of EWoS activities, creating a framework that promotes inclusion, equality and a sense of community through sport.

Mini-Van Tour

The Mini-Van Tour is an innovative and proven tool for cross-community work in the region. Five different locations with divided communities are visited, bringing together various stakeholders. The Mini-Van Tour not only brings together different target groups (children, young people, coaches, parents), with a focus on including vulnerable groups, but is also a perfect tool for expanding the network and bringing together stakeholders in the region and the community (ministries, local administrative bodies). Sports clubs, local authorities, schools, youth initiatives and other NGOs are working together to set up a mini-van tour station. Raising awareness and distributing Game Changers project materials (brochure, handbook, folder) as well as applying the methods of the developed fairplay workshops round off this important part of the project.

Capacity building

Round table

In November 2025, a round table with representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs), sports clubs and LGBTIQ+/queer initiatives will be organized as the final event of the project.

Youth online toolkit and social media

The online toolkit uses online channels (website, Instagram, Facebook) that are frequently used and accessed by young people. The aim is to provide information about the activities during the project period and beyond, and to create participation. The toolkit will also involve the partners and is therefore a tool for securing the project results.

Social Media

Instagram: fairplay / IZI
Facebook: fairplay / IZI

Links

Game Changers Camp, 17-20.5.24
Game Changers at the European Week of Sports, 23-30.9.24