By far the most popular sport worldwide, football is a fantastic way for children and young people to boost their physical condition and emotional wellbeing. Moreover, like most team sports, football is an excellent educational tool as it promotes teamwork and teaches selflessness and cooperation. The ability to work with others to reach a common goal is valuable skill, beneficial for the minors in their everyday life.

The unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors accommodated in the two Safety Zones, managed by IOM in RRC Sofia love playing football and they showed that they're good at it. During the weekend two teams - one from the zone in Ovcha Kupel and one from the zone in Voenna Rampa took part in a football tournament, organised by The Bulgarian Red Cross. The children greatly enjoyed the event and really gave their best on the pitch. What is more, the Voenna Rampa football team won 2nd place in the tournament.

These activities were implemented within the framework of the project “Support for unaccompanied minors, seeking international protection” funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2020 under the Programme “Home Affairs”.