Western balkans

PLAY International is driving transformative change in the Western Balkans by using sport and play to promote education, inclusion, and social cohesion. From urban centers to rural communities, our work is rooted in the belief that every child and young person, regardless of their ethnic background, gender, or abilities, deserves the same opportunities to learn, grow, and lead.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to inclusive education, gender equality, inter-ethnic dialogue, and youth empowerment. By collaborating with education authorities, civil society, and youth networks across the region, we co-create tools and methods that help combat discrimination, school violence, and social exclusion, using the universal language of play.

Our current initiatives reflect this mission in action. Shared Horizons brings together young people from six Western Balkan countries through cross-border training camps that strengthen dialogue, critical thinking, and mutual understanding. Sport 4 Resilience equips young people with practical skills and psychosocial tools to better cope with adversity and build stronger, more resilient communities. Sport 4 Inclusion empowers marginalized children and youth by creating safer and more inclusive spaces for play and learning. Meanwhile, Let's Play Maths brings sport into the classroom to help children aged 6 to 9 learn maths in a fun, active and inclusive way, through games co-created with teachers and universities. Together, these projects combine sport, education and civic engagement to foster the emergence of a new generation of autonomous change-makers.

Since launching its first activities in Kosovo in 1999, PLAY International has become a regional leader in the field of sport for development. More than 80,000 children, at least half of whom are girls, have participated in our programs. More than 4,000 children with disabilities have been integrated into sports and recreational activities thanks to innovative and accessible models. We have trained more than 700 teachers in the use of sport for education and inclusion, and helped more than 1,000 young people to lead games and organize activities in their communities. In Kosovo alone, we have set up more than 3,000 inclusive sports sessions.

From classrooms to community fields, PLAY International continues to prove that sport is more than just a game—it is a tool for connection, learning, and lasting change.