Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal developmentContext
Satu Mare County is an ethnically diverse area that is home to Roma, Romanian, Hungarian and German communities. Across the region, Children from disadvantaged backgrounds (and especially Roma) face a variety of challenges. In particular, children from different ethnic communities rarely interact outside of school, and prejudice and discrimination are persistent issues. Opportunities to promote children’s personal development, encourage physical activity and provide informal education are also scarce, making it more likely that they will experience social isolation, drop out of school or engage in unhealthy behaviours. These problems are exacerbated by a lack of suitable sports facilities where children can meet, play together and develop social skills.
Project goals
- Promote social inclusion and bring children from the different ethnic groups together in a safe and structured environment.
- Ensure equal access to sport in safe, suitable facilities, especially for children from vulnerable backgrounds.
- Counter discrimination by fostering values of teamwork and mutual respect.
- Support children’s physical, emotional and social well-being and development.
- Encourage gender equality and promote girls’ participation in sport and community activities.
- Strengthen community cohesion, engage local stakeholders and encourage them to take ownership of the project over the long term.
- Future-proof infrastructure and activities to ensure continued access to inclusive sports opportunities even after UEFA Foundation funding comes to an end.
Project content
The project organises a range of activities for children between 6 and 18 years of age, regardless of ethnic origin. Its work falls into seven overarching areas:
- Sports infrastructure
- A safe, fully equipped football pitch is being constructed in Dorolț.
- Hygienic and accessible changing rooms equipped with a shower and toilet will also be provided.
- Weekly training sessions
- Volunteer coaches lead ethnically mixed football training sessions.
- Each session focuses on a different theme, such as teamwork, fair play, personal development, healthy lifestyles, discrimination or addiction.
- Monthly sport and inclusion events
- Children from all backgrounds can play sport together at these large-scale events.
- They feature integrated workshops designed to promote social cohesion, respect and intercultural understanding.
- Informal education
- Workshops cover a range of topics, including healthy habits, personal growth, emotional regulation, teamwork and how to avoid risky behaviours.
- The sessions are led by a social worker and a nurse, both of whom specialise in addiction prevention and children’s well-being.
- Engaging with parents and the community
- Parents and local volunteers are actively involved in organising and supporting activities.
- Community leaders are consulted on the project’s work, which helps to strengthen local ownership and increase the chances of long-term sustainability.
- Promoting gender equality
- Particular focus is placed on encouraging girls to participate in all sports and workshops.
- Each individual activity is designed to ensure inclusion and provide equal opportunities for girls and boys.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and visibility:
- Attendance figures, broken down by ethnicity and gender, are tracked and outcomes continuously monitored.
- Photos, videos and social media updates are released regularly to communicate progress, raise awareness and highlight impact.
Partner
