Western Balkans

PLAY International is driving transformative change across the Western Balkans by using sport and play to promote education, inclusion, and social cohesion. From urban centres to rural communities, our actions are grounded in the belief that every child and young person, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or ability, deserves equal opportunities to learn, grow, and lead.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to inclusive education, gender equality, interethnic dialogue, and the empowerment of youth. By collaborating with education authorities, civil society, and youth networks across the region, we co-create tools and methods that help address 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 youth bootcamps that strengthen dialogue, critical thinking, and mutual understanding. Sport 4 Resilience equips young people with life skills and psychosocial tools to better navigate adversity and build stronger, more connected communities. Sport 4 Inclusion empowers marginalized children and youth by creating safer, 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 mathematics 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 a new generation of empowered changemakers.

Since launching its first activities in Kosovo in 1999, PLAY International has grown into a regional leader in sport for development. Over 80,000 children, at least half of them girls, have taken part in our programs. More than 4,000 children with disabilities have been included in sport and play through innovative, accessible models. We have trained over 700 teachers in using sport for education and inclusion, and supported more than 1,000 young people to lead games and organize activities in their communities. Across Kosovo alone, we have implemented over 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.