Eight organisations. Six countries. One shared goal: using sport to build peace and inclusion.
In June 2026, the partners of Sport Together 4 Peace – Cross-community Social Inclusion of Young People Affected by Conflicts came together for the first time in Paou, Greece.
For three years, organisations from across Europe will work together to explore how sport can contribute to social cohesion, reconciliation and inclusion among young people affected by conflicts.
And this is where our journey begins.
A new partnership, a shared purpose
The first partner meeting brought together representatives of eight organisations from Austria, Ireland, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Poland.
Beyond getting to know each other, the meeting was an opportunity to build a common understanding of the project, discuss its priorities and start shaping the activities that will bring the partnership’s vision to life.
For SPIN, being part of this partnership means connecting our experience and network with organisations working in different contexts, while learning from one another and exploring new ways to use sport as a tool for social change.
Why Sport Together 4 Peace?
Sport can bring people together across differences.
But in communities affected by conflict, creating opportunities for young people to meet, participate and build relationships can be particularly important.
Sport Together 4 Peace aims to promote social cohesion and reconciliation among young people in conflict-affected regions, while supporting intercultural exchange and social inclusion through sport.
A particular focus will be placed on young people affected by conflict, including refugees and girls.
From Greece to the next steps
The meeting in Greece was only the beginning.
November 2026
📍 Belgrade, Serbia
A two-day training programme will focus on strengthening sporting and social skills and engaging multipliers who will contribute to the project’s implementation.
2027
📍
The project will continue with implementing local sport events by the trained Multipliers in all participating countries and highlighted by the Girls Football Festival from 25-27 June in Vienna, bringing together girls from diverse cultural backgrounds through football, new friendships and shared experiences. A Cross-Community Tour will bring us to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia in the autumn of the year.
2028
📍 Ireland & Northern Ireland
The first Cross-Community Tour will take place in Ireland and Northern Ireland in June, followed by the project’s final Sport for Peace Forum in Donegal, bringing together experiences, lessons learned and project outcomes in November.
And along the way, one of the project’s key moments will be an Youth-Online Campaign and events during the European Week of Sport in 2027 and 2028.
Eight partners. One shared goal.
The partnership brings together organisations with different experiences, backgrounds and areas of expertise – but with a common belief: Sport can be a space for connection, dialogue and belonging.
Together, we are starting a journey to explore what that can look like in communities affected by conflict.
We started in Greece.
Now, the work begins.
Partners:
VIDC – fairplay Initiative (Austria)
Donegal Local Sports Partnership (Ireland)
Football Association of Ireland (Ireland)
NGO Atina (Serbia)
NGO Igrajmo Zajedno Inicijativa (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
University of Thessaly (Greece)
Fundacja dla Wolności (Poland)
SPIN – Sport Inclusion Network (Austria)
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
