Sport plays a vital role in supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of all children — and for unaccompanied displaced children, it also offers a crucial space for healing, connection, and belonging. Team sports, especially, foster the spirit of cooperation, fair play, and inclusion — essential values for growing strong, supported, and empowered young people.

This week, unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UAMs) from the Safe Zones at RRC Sofia – Ovcha Kupel and Voenna Rampa had the opportunity to take part in the 43rd National Individual Championship for Children and Youth at Risk, held under the motto "Sport – accessible for all children" at Sportna Sofia 2000 sports complex in Vazrazhdane Park, Sofia.
 

The young athletes prepared for the tournament with the support of IOM Bulgaria staff and were accompanied to the event by colleagues from the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) — a wonderful example of the strong cooperation between institutions working together to ensure that no child is left behind.

We are proud of the enthusiasm, team spirit, and courage shown by the boys on and off the field. Their participation is a testament to the power of sport to create safe, inclusive spaces — where every child can play, grow, and thrive.

The Safe Zones are managed within the framework of the project "Support for Unaccompanied Minors Accommodated in Safe Zones" funded by the National Programme of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2021–2027 with the financial support of the European Union.