FR
EN
This summer, something remarkable happened across the Western Balkans. In four capital cities, Pristina (Kosovo), Skopje (Macedonia), Tirana (Albania), and Podgorica (Montenegro), over 80 young people aged 18 to 24 gathered for an experience that transcended borders, backgrounds, and biases. These were the first four bootcamps of the Shared Horizons project, a regional initiative implemented by PLAY International and funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs through Expertise France.
At the heart of Shared Horizons lies a bold mission: to reshape how youth in the Western Balkans understand each other, their history, and their shared future in Europe. The project builds on the belief that by creating spaces for meaningful exchange, we can move beyond nationalist narratives and promote unity, resilience, and collaboration.
Four Cities, One Vision
Across the four bootcamps, from the vibrant streets of Pristina (June 30 – July 4) to the mountains surrounding Podgorica (August 11 – 15), participants engaged in a dynamic mix of activities: structured debate, socio-sport sessions, creative challenges, and teamwork exercises. These weren’t just summer camps. They were transformative spaces where youth from Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina came together to explore what a peaceful, shared European future could look like.
One participant shared, “What I valued most was meeting people from different backgrounds and realizing that, despite our differences, we share the same hopes for the future of the region.”
Each bootcamp had its own rhythm, shaped by local context and the unique energy of the participants. But the outcomes were consistent: increased confidence, strengthened cross-cultural friendships, and a renewed belief in the power of collective action.
Sport as a Language of Unity
True to PLAY International’s ethos, sport was central – not as competition, but as connection. Through inclusive games and cooperative challenges, participants learned to trust, communicate, and collaborate across linguistic, national, and ethnic lines.
These socio-sport activities were more than icebreakers. They offered a tangible way to confront stereotypes, practice empathy, and build psychosocial skills. In doing so, the bootcamps reinforced PLAY’s strategic priority of promoting cooperation through innovative, sport-based pedagogies.
Feedback from the participants confirmed this impact:
• Increased confidence to contribute to social cohesion in their communities.
• The majority reported forming new connections across ethnic and national line – relationships that many said they would maintain beyond the program.
• Attitudes shifted toward a more inclusive worldview, with participants expressing a deeper understanding and appreciation of European, Olympic, and Paralympic values.
A Region Reimagined
The Western Balkans is a region with a complex past. But what these bootcamps demonstrated is that young people are ready and eager to build a different future. A future where diversity is a strength, dialogue is encouraged, and European integration is seen not as a distant ideal, but a shared objective.
By focusing on collective memory and common values, the project invited participants to move from historical grievances to future possibilities. Sessions exploring cultural heritage and storytelling allowed youth to connect over common traditions while acknowledging the past. Facilitated discussions helped frame reconciliation not as forgetting, but as forging a way forward together.
This directly supports our long-standing commitment to peacebuilding and youth resilience. By creating safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue and play, these bootcamps helped counter nationalist narratives and gave youth a platform to imagine a Europe they want to be part of.
What Comes Next?
The four bootcamps completed this summer are just the beginning. In total, eight will be delivered by the end of the project. The goal is not only to deepen understanding and cross-cultural collaboration but also to build a regional network of young changemakers who can carry forward the values of the program in their own communities.
Projects like Shared Horizons show what’s possible when youth are given the tools, the space, and the trust to lead. In a time when polarization and division often dominate the headlines, the young people who participated in these bootcamps offer a different narrative – one of cooperation, openness, and shared purpose.
As we look toward the second half of the project, we’re inspired by what has already been achieved and energized by what’s still to come.
Et maintenant ?
Les quatre bootcamps organisés cet été ne sont qu'un début. Au total, huit bootcamps seront organisés d'ici la fin du projet. L'objectif n'est pas seulement d'approfondir la compréhension et la collaboration interculturelle, mais aussi de créer un réseau régional de jeunes acteurs du changement capables de transmettre les valeurs du programme dans leurs propres communautés.
Des projets tels que Shared Horizons montrent ce qu'il est possible de réaliser lorsque les jeunes disposent des outils, de l'espace et de la confiance nécessaires pour diriger. À une époque où la polarisation et la division font souvent la une des journaux, les jeunes qui ont participé à ces bootcamps offrent un récit différent, celui de la coopération, de l'ouverture et d'un objectif commun.
Alors que nous nous tournons vers la seconde moitié du projet, nous sommes inspirés par ce qui a déjà été accompli et motivés par ce qui reste à venir.