The Play for Life partnership: three European organisations working together for young people

The Play for Life – PFL project is based on a European partnership composed of three organisations from Italy, Bulgaria and Romania. The partners share a common vision: using sport as an educational and preventive tool to support young people and reduce the risks connected to substance abuse.

The partnership is one of the strongest elements of the project. Each organisation brings specific experience in sport, youth work, inclusion, non-formal education and community engagement, contributing to the development of a shared European approach.

The project coordinator is ASD Passaggi nello Sport, an Italian sport association founded in 2018. The organisation promotes sport as a tool for social inclusion, prevention and support, with particular attention to young people facing personal, social or family difficulties.

ASD Passaggi nello Sport has developed activities that use sport to strengthen self-esteem, resilience, well-being and sense of belonging. Its work is based on the idea that sport organisations can become safe and welcoming environments where young people find support, motivation and positive role models.

The Bulgarian partner is SPORTSROOM, a sport non-governmental organisation founded in 2021, with activities in Sofia, Montana and Varna. SPORTSROOM combines sport, non-formal education and innovation to generate positive social change through physical activity and community-based initiatives.

Its experience in team sports such as football, volleyball and basketball will be particularly relevant for Play for Life. Team sports can promote cooperation, leadership, responsibility and mutual support, all of which are essential elements in prevention work with young people.

SPORTSROOM also has experience in working with young people at risk, migrants, refugees and minorities, building support networks through schools, universities and sport clubs. This background will help the project develop inclusive and practical tools for different local contexts.

The Romanian partner is Asociația Tinerilor cu Inițiativă Civică – A.T.I.C., a youth organisation based in Galați and founded in 2016. A.T.I.C. promotes active citizenship, education, youth empowerment and social participation, with particular attention to young people from vulnerable backgrounds.

Within Play for Life, A.T.I.C. will contribute its experience in youth work, educational activities and community involvement. Its role will be essential to strengthen the social and participatory dimension of the project, ensuring that the developed tools are relevant for young people and local communities.

Together, the three organisations will work on the creation of educational materials, sport-based tools, awareness resources and practical methodologies for sport youth workers.

The transnational dimension of Play for Life will allow partners to exchange good practices, compare different realities and build a common model that can be used beyond the project partnership.

By bringing together different experiences and competences, Play for Life aims to show that sport organisations can become real educational hubs for prevention, inclusion and youth support.