Play 4 Peace

Play 4 Peace (P4P) is a small-scale Erasmus+ youth partnership project (KA210-YOU) that brings together organisations from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey to promote social inclusion, mental well-being, and intercultural understanding through the power of sports.
The project specifically targets disadvantaged young people aged 15-21, including refugees, migrants, orphans, and youth facing economic or health challenges.

Background and Rationale:
Due to the rising number of refugees from Ukraine and other conflict-affected regions, young people today face major challenges in social integration, emotional well-being, and inclusion in society.
Recognising the transformative power of sports to foster friendships, promote equality, reduce discrimination, and build resilience, P4P aims to use sport as a strategic tool for the inclusion and empowerment of disadvantaged youth.

Main Objectives:

To train youth workers and sports staff to implement inclusive sports practices with disadvantaged and refugee youth.

To enhance psychosocial support for young people through sports-based educational and therapeutic activities.

To establish an international network of NGOs, sports clubs, and youth organisations working for inclusion through sport.

Key Activities:

Kick-off meeting for coordination and preparation.

Training course in Hungary for youth workers on sports-based inclusion methods.

Youth mobility (LTT) in Slovakia for disadvantaged youth combining education, cultural exchange, and sports.

Hybrid Play 4 Peace Conference in Romania to present project results and share best practices.

Final meeting in Turkey focusing on evaluation, sustainability, and dissemination.

Local P4P festivals and tournaments in each partner country to involve broader communities.

Creation of a Multilingual Toolkit and Glossary for NGOs and sports organisations to support refugee inclusion.

Target Groups:

Primary: Disadvantaged youth aged 15-21 (refugees, youth with disabilities, health problems, or economic difficulties).

Secondary: Youth workers, sports coaches, PE teachers, and NGO volunteers working with disadvantaged groups.

Expected Results:

Strengthened social inclusion and emotional resilience among disadvantaged youth through the healing power of sport.

Empowered and better-trained youth workers and sport professionals in inclusive education and social work.

Establishment of a P4P network supporting the ongoing use of inclusive sports practices at local and international levels.

Wide dissemination of the P4P Toolkit and practices to expand impact beyond project partners.

Project Duration:
From 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025 (12 months)

Funding:
The project is funded by Erasmus+ with a total lump sum grant of €60,000.