Differences connect us – we are all life champions

From September 25 to 28, a mixed educational-sports camp was successfully held at Palić as part of the “Creating Life Champions” concept. This time under the title “Differences connect us – we are all life champions”, it was aimed at girls and boys aged 12 to 16 from different parts of Serbia, and for the first time – different sports disciplines.

During four days, participants improved their skills and developed personal qualities through sport, non-formal education, play, and teamwork, using sport as a platform for learning, connection, and personal growth. The program allowed each child to express themselves through team sports that foster cooperation and team spirit, as well as individual disciplines that enhance focus, coordination, and personal responsibility.

For years, the concept of Life Champions emphasizes that sport is not just a game, but a powerful tool for learning, personal and social progress. Through joint activities, educational games and workshops, young participants acquire skills that go beyond the field. They learn how to cooperate, support others, and face challenges with perseverance and confidence. Every child carries the potential to be a champion not only in sport but also in life, and our camp provides an opportunity to develop that potential through various sports and educational activities. Differences among participants become a strength, while fair play, discipline, and teamwork form the foundation for growth, learning, and creating friendships that will be remembered forever.

“With great pride, we emphasize that our camp, for the sixt time in a row, once again successfully demonstrated the true value of sport and team spirit. Special attention is given to fair play, mutual respect, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork, because we believe that a champion is not only the one who wins a competition but also the one who knows how to fight, learn from mistakes, and support others, both on and off the field. We thank all the participants who took part in every activity with enthusiasm, energy, and an open heart, showing a willingness to learn, collaborate, and inspire one another. Their dedication and engagement make us proud and confirm that together we are creating true life champions,” said the program director of Development center for youth and creator of the concept, Aleksandra Knežević.

The lecturers who were part of this year’s camp did an outstanding job presenting various topics crucial for the personal development of young participants. Through carefully designed workshops, the participants explored important issues such as safety and wellbeing in sports, responsible use of social media, and navigating the digital world around them, both in the sports context and outside the same. Special focus was placed on emotional management, recognized as the first prerequisite for developing self-confidence, responsibility, and leadership skills, qualities that form the foundation of a true life champion. The lecturers combined theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, enabling participants to apply what they learned in real situations and acquire skills that would benefit them beyond the sports field. This way, the camp provided young people with a comprehensive experience linking physical, mental, and emotional development.

The camp coaches led conditioning and sports activities carefully adapted to the age and abilities of the participants, ensuring that every girl and boy had the opportunity to develop at their own pace. Through a combination of team and individual exercises, the coaches promoted teamwork, mutual cooperation, and fair play, while simultaneously working on strengthening the participants’ strength, coordination, and endurance.

The “Creating Life Champions” concept has been supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, the European Commission through the ERASMUS+ Sport program, the UEFA Foundation for Children, as well as different local self-governments. Numerous partners and socially responsible companies enabled the implementation of this year’s camp, recognizing its importance for the wider community, while its long-lasting media partner is TV Arena sport.