prijava
BIHAĆ, June 19 (FENA) - Children who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution or human rights violations, playing sports with their peers can help them gain self-confidence, make new friendships and feel safe and welcome in our country, it was said yesterday at the sports event "Games without Borders" which was held in Bihać on the occasion of the World Refugee Day.
The event, which brought together refugee children and asylum seekers staying at the Borići Reception Center and children from local communities, was organized by the UNHCR Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of Harmani II Primary School in Bihać and Save the Children.
“Sport gathers people, gives hope and is a great way to recover after going through difficult times. It can help refugees recover from the experience of displacement and exile and feel safe and welcome,” said Giovanni Monge, head of operations at the UNHCR in BiH.
The sports field in the yard of the primary school "Harmani II" where the sports event was held, was built through a joint project of UNHCR and IOM "Strengthening Social Cohesion in Communities hosting People on the Move", funded by the European Union through foreign policy instruments (EU FPI). The works were co-financed by the Government of the Una-Sana Canton.
The playground is a new sports space where students will be able to have PE classes, but also where children from the local community and refugee and migrant children will be able to spend their free time and enjoy new facilities.
The project was launched with the idea of creating opportunities for meaningful interaction between refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and citizens of Bihać, and to contribute to social cohesion and support to local communities for projects that can benefit both local communities and people on the move.
"Games without Borders" as well as the opening of the playground precedes the marking of World Refugee Day on June 20, when we look back at the suffering, but also the strength and resilience of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons around the world, UNHCR said.
(FENA) A. B.
