The team of Development Center for Youth visits the 5th shift of DEKI5 camp

During the fifth shift of DEKI5 camp, which has so far gathered over 700 boys and girls, participants were also visited by the consortium of the project Creating Life Champions, led by its coordinator Aleksandra Knežević. This visit additionally influenced the content for the participants, since new lectures for the youngest were integrated, as well as activities intended for coaches.

During the implementation of all five shifts, both lectures and training sessions were designed to combine educational and sports elements. This year, a special focus is placed on girls, with the aim of promoting their participation in sports and strengthening their self-confidence through a sports environment. The project “Life Champions 2.0: We are all champions” emphasizes inclusivity, enabling all children to feel welcome and supported. It aims to create a positive environment for their development and progress, where every child feels accomplished and significant.

The educational team of Development Center for Youth participated through interactive lectures, covering topics such as teamwork, leadership, the importance of physical activity for development of a healthy and complete personality, healthy nutrition and many others related to non-formal education. Each lecture is accompanied by practical activities in the field. Children had the opportunity to participate in various sports games and exercises, which aimed to encourage them to cooperate, communicate and work as a team. Coaches were also involved in the program, through specialized workshops that helped them improve their methods of working with children.

“After we announced a dynamic year in January, in which we already successfully organized a series of regional info days, as well as a training session for coaches held in Thessaloniki, it was the turn of a series of summer educational-sports mixed camps. Development Center for Youth team held a series of workshops, both on and off the field, promoting the concept of life champions. Topics such as gender equality and the protection of children and youth in football (safeguarding) aroused special interest, which provided us with guidelines for future action. Participants of the camp have received answers and ideas on how to approach certain problems that they may encounter through playing sports, emphasizing that sports should be available and open to everyone”, said the program director of Development Center for Youth and creator of the concept, Aleksandra Knežević.

Visit of the project consortium programmatically enriched the fifth shift of the camp, providing participants with the opportunity to acquire additional life skills. On that occasion, it has been once again confirmed that the combination of education and sports is a win-win in promoting equality and inclusion in sports.

The project “Life Champions 2.0: We are all champions” in 2024 is supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children, and co-financed through support from the ERASMUS+ program in the field of sports, received for development of this innovative educational concept in sports.