On the occasion of the International Youth Day, UN Volunteers BiH in cooperation with Open Fun Football Schools organized the open street action for more than 250 boys and girls in Sarajevo-Ilidža. The significance of the event was amplified by the presence of two local football legends – Sergej Barbarez, the former captain of the national team, and Ivica Osim, the legendary coach.

Youngsters in Ilidža were playing and enjoying themselves. The same with adult trainers who organised games at different stands – foottennis, footbasketball, fun football etc. At each of 12 stations kids could learn something new, improving their physical, communication and teamwork skills.

Another stand was organized by UN Volunteers and focused on the topic of environmental sustainability. The kids were senzitized on how much packing material we consume every day - and how much we really need - through two creative activities: how to make a football out of old newspapers and plastic bags, and how to make a purse out of used tetrapack boxes.

The overall purpose of the event was to underline the impact of sport programmes focused on integration, reconciliation and informal education of youngsters. „The development and intergration potential of sport projects in BiH is huge. Sport, and particularly football, is able to connect people in a way which is entirely natural for youngsters – through game. Game organized in a positive spirit connects kids as well as volunteering trainers,“ stresses Robin Ujfaluši from United Nations Volunteers.

Open Fun Football Schools is one of the local success stories in this field. It started in 1998 in BiH, organizing more than 200 summer camps and involving more than 60,000 kids and 5000 adult trainers, only in BiH. Nowadays it works in 12 countries of Western Balkan, Middle East and Caucasus. OFFS has been recently awarded as the Best sport project for peace in the world by Tony Blair's foundation Beyond sport.

Esad Hadžijusufović, director of OFFS Sarajevo office, describes the mission of the project as follows: „The kids are the most important thing for our methods. Our mission is to bring them together, give them fun and share with them positive values through football. All this would not be possible without massive volunteer engagement of our commited trainers.“

All the participants were amazed by the presence of Sergej Barbarez and Ivica Osim who got a warm and noisy welcome as well as assured a proper publicity for the event. As Barbarez said to a reporter of Oslobodenje: “This is something great, designed as an event full of fun. Kids are given an opportunity to train and master football skills. The festival is even more important when recognized by the UN programme. I am glad something like this is organized in our country.”

In short, the International-Youth-Day street action presented sport volunteerism as the meaningful as well rewarding work for youth as well as community. Or even shorter: „Igram, volontiram, uživam“ (Playing, volunteering, enjoying) was the main watch-word of the event.