Today, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Eti Castellani, the ceremony to start the new season and the ceremonial awarding of new jerseys of the “Inter Campus Bosnia and Herzegovina” project was held by representatives of Inter Campus – an initiative that has been a concrete example of sports diplomacy for years, promoting inclusion, education and peaceful coexistence through football.
The “Inter Campus” project of the FC Internazionale football club has been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1999. Since 2011, it has been cooperating with the “Sprofondo-Thalia” Association in Sarajevo and with the “Sportski klub Dubrave” Association in Domanovići (Mostar), with the aim of supporting ethnic reconciliation through football, helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds and training local educators through regular technical and pedagogical workshops.
In Sarajevo in particular, the project involved around fifty children aged 6 to 13 of different ethnicities and nationalities, from vulnerable families living in difficult economic conditions. “Sport conveys universal values such as respect, loyalty and cooperation. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, these values have an even deeper meaning: the process of interethnic reconciliation is still not fully completed, and any initiative that can encourage dialogue and the meeting of different parts of society is a valuable contribution,” Ambassador Castellani emphasized.
The project will continue in Domanovići in the coming days. “All children have the right to play. And through play and socializing together, children learn to get to know and recognize each other, laying the foundations for peaceful and mutually respectful coexistence — this is a key investment, because they will be the adults of tomorrow,” said Christian Valerio, project manager of the “Inter Campus” project.
“Projects like this demonstrate the effectiveness of sports diplomacy as a means of strengthening social cohesion and building lasting relationships between communities,” added Ambassador Castellani, thanking the leaders of Inter Campus, the president of the “Sprofondo-Thalia” association, Hajrija Javirnicki, as well as all local educators.
Special thanks were extended to the participating children: “Today you are receiving a new jersey, a symbol that unites you as a team. Wear it with joy, play and have fun, and don’t forget that playing together is already a step towards building a common future,” concluded the ambassador.
