One game at a time
One game at a time
Sports are more than just a game. For Turkish and refugee youth living in Manisa, sports are now a means of social integration and access to protection mechanisms.
Through the “Promoting Peace and Protection Through Sports for Youth Under Temporary and International Protection and Youth from Host Communities in Türkiye” project, which UNHCR implements with the support of the Barça Foundation and in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), young people aged 8-16 receive four-month training sessions in basketball, football, volleyball, and handball.
SportNet methodology, developed by the Barça Foundation, is at the core of this initiative, alongside UNHCR's "Sports for Protection" approach. SportNet uses sport as a tool for social integration to improve the lives of children and young people who are living in vulnerable contexts. And within the scope of "Sports for Protection" approach, UNHCR supports the access of youth and their family members to protection mechanisms in their provinces.
Mehmet Al, the coordinator of the coaches and sports expert in the project, highlights the positive impact of the applied SportNet methodology on young people: "Modesty, teamwork, respect, passion, perseverance. We conveyed these values to the youth through sports in a practical and hands-on way, and now we are seeing great results in terms of social cohesion."
Volleyball coach Ezgi Hacıoğlu participated in the SportNet training provided by the Barça Foundation along with other coaches. Higlighting that the training contributed to her both professionally and personally, she says: “I learned things that I can use not only during the project but throughout my entire career. Most importantly, it helped us realize the significant impact sports can have on social issues."
She mentions that initially, children formed groups based on their backgrounds but in time, she observed how they united as a team with shared goals and mutual respect. “During the tournament, the unifying power of sports became very clear. The children bonded over a common goal, and we saw real progress in terms of social cohesion,” she notes.
Basketball coach Halil Fırat Yavaş says that he observed the results of their work in the field very positively. He says, “I have learned that coaching isn’t just about performance,” and adds, “We’ve seen improvements in terms of respect, discipline, and confidence. This project has shown us that sports can influence many aspects of young people’s lives, from health and education to socialization and communication.”
The project, started in 2024 in Manisa, has completed 2 training periods and has brought together youth to play in Friendly Tournaments at the end of each. With the support of Barça Foundation and in partnership with MoYS, it is expected to last until the end of June 2026, reaching to 2000 youth from refugee and the host community.
By fostering core values like teamwork, leadership, and respect, UNHCR supports youth to build a more inclusive and cohesive future—one game at a time.