Today, in the presence of the Ambassador of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Castellani, a ceremony was held to kick off the season and hand over by representatives of Inter Campus the new jerseys of the Inter Campus Bosnia project, an initiative that for years has been a concrete example of sports diplomacy, promoting inclusion, education and peaceful coexistence through soccer.
The Inter Campus project of the FC Internazionale soccer team has been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1999. Since 2011, it has been collaborating with the Sprofondo-Thalia Association in Sarajevo and the Sportski Club Dubrave Association in Domanovici (Mostar), with the aim of using the game of soccer to support ethnic reconciliation, to help children from more disadvantaged backgrounds, and to train local educators with periodic technical-pedagogical refresher visits.
Specifically, in Sarajevo about fifty children between the ages of 6 and 13 from different ethnicities and nationalities, from vulnerable families and in precarious economic conditions, have been included in the project. “Sports convey universal values such as respect, loyalty, and cooperation. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, these values take on an even deeper meaning: the process of interethnic reconciliation is not yet fully completed and any initiative capable of fostering dialogue and encounters between the different components of society is therefore a valuable contribution,” Ambassador Castellani noted.
The project will continue in the coming days in Domanovici. “All children have the right to play. And through play and sharing, children learn to know and recognize each other, laying the foundations for peaceful and respectful coexistence – a fundamental investment, because they will be the adults of tomorrow,” – said Christian Valerio, head of Inter Campus.
“Projects like this demonstrate the effectiveness of sports diplomacy as a vehicle for social cohesion and building lasting relationships between communities,” added Ambassador Castellani, thanking Inter Campus managers, Sprofondo-Thalia Association President Hajrjia Javirnicki, and all local educators.
A special thanks was addressed to the participating children: “Today you receive a new jersey, a symbol that unites you as a team. Wear it with joy, have fun, and remember that playing together is already a way to build a common future,” concluded the Ambassador.
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