The Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports at AAB College will be a partner in the PLAY INTERNATIONAL organization project “Sport 4 resilience – Sport for endurance”. This project focuses on active and comprehensive education in Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro and includes the time period April 2023 – June 2026. It will involve 200 trained teachers, 12 university professors, 21 thousand children, 350 trained students, 20 civil society organizations and 600 young people.

Through sports games, the project will aim to strengthen resilience and psychosocial skills of children and teachers by introducing active, innovative and inclusive teaching methods in 60 primary schools in the three countries. In the informal sector, the project will aim to promote the resilience of young people (15-24 years old) to the risks of radicalization and violence through the development of psychosocial skills and the promotion of shared values ​​and social cohesion. The project aims to create strong partnerships with institutions such as universities, municipalities, ministries and the Olympic Committee.

The project builds on lessons learned from PLAY’s last project, EJO (2019-2023), which focused on developing life skills such as tolerance, respect and inclusion. Throughout the EJO, the need to continue the fight against discrimination and violence among youth and school-aged children was noted. The Western Balkans region, including the three target countries of Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro, experienced a series of conflicts in the late 20th century that continue to influence society today.

These conflicts have resulted in tensions and discrimination between different ethnic groups, as well as against women, and have played a role in the emergence of ethno-nationalist, religious or political extremist movements. The project will involve 200 trained teachers (70% women), 12 trained university professors, 21,000 children (50% girls), 350 trained students, 20 civil society organizations and 600 young people.