Playing together for a better tomorrow

"<< Background >>We applied for the project ""Playing Together for a Better Tomorrow"" in response to the urgent need to promote the social inclusion of war refugees, particularly young people, through non-formal education and sports-based activities. Many refugees face isolation, discrimination, and limited access to safe, inclusive spaces where they can build relationships and integrate into local communities. Our project addresses these challenges by creating opportunities for youth workers and young refugees to connect through sport, storytelling, and intercultural dialogue. The initiative was developed to empower youth workers with the skills, tools, and confidence to foster inclusion, while also providing refugees with meaningful ways to participate, express themselves, and improve their physical and mental well-being.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the project ""Playing Together for a Better Tomorrow"" was to promote the social inclusion of young war refugees through sport-based methods and non-formal education. We aimed to:1.Provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees to engage in physical and social activities.2.Train youth workers to break down stereotypes and build bridges between refugee and host communities.3.Foster positive relationships and mutual understanding between young refugees and local peers.4.Create a tangible educational resource – a set of comic strips – to raise awareness about the challenges refugees face and promote inclusive practices.5.Strengthen cooperation among partner organizations and equip them with effective tools and methods to support refugee integration across Europe.<< Implementation >>Project Management and Dissemination – Coordinated by Kilis Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate, this included a face-to-face kick-off meeting in Lithuania, online mid-term and final evaluation meetings, continuous partner communication, and dissemination through social media, newsletters, peer-to-peer actions, and multiplier events in all partner countries.International Youth Workers Workshop in Bulgaria – Hosted by Champions Factory, this 5-day training brought together 15 youth workers from Lithuania, Turkey, and Bulgaria. It focused on using sports for social inclusion, visiting a refugee camp, and building leadership skills for working with young refugees.International Sport Camp in Turkey – A 4-day camp in Kilis gathered 24 participants (youth workers and young people, including war refugees and youth with fewer opportunities) for intercultural activities, visits to refugee centers, joint sports sessions, and environmental actions.Creation of Comic Strips – Led by IVAIGO , partners collaboratively developed digital comic strips that illustrate refugee experiences and inclusion challenges. These were made publicly available online to raise awareness and serve as educational tools.Local and dissemination activities<< Results >>Comic Strips Handbook – A free digital collection created by partners that illustrates young refugees’ experiences, serving as an educational tool to raise awareness and foster empathy.International Youth Workers Workshop in Bulgaria trained 15 youth workers to use sports and non-formal methods for refugee inclusion and intercultural understanding. The International Sport Camp in Turkey involved 24 participants—18 young refugees or youth with fewer opportunities and 6 youth workers—in sports activities that promoted dialogue, mental well-being, and friendships between refugees and host communities.Over 20 dissemination activities were carried out in all three countries, including workshops, presentations, multiplier events, and social media campaigns, reaching youth workers, educators, NGOs, schools, refugees, and the wider public. All partners strengthened their transnational cooperation and built sustainable partnerships for future projects in inclusion, youth work, and sport. The project raised public and institutional awareness about refugee inclusion and demonstrated how sports and storytelling can challenge stereotypes and support integration locally, regionally, and across Europe."