"Sport is more than just rivalry" – Lessons from the Coaching for Community Camp in Poland
20/02/2025Michalina Stachowiak, V4Sport
The Coaching for Community Camp, held in Trzebnica, Poland from February 1–8, 2025, has successfully concluded. This impactful event brought together nearly 100 participants, including youth, Tandem Coaches, and international experts, all united by a common mission: using sport as a tool for integration.
The event served as the official starting point for the Let’s Play Together initiative. This long-term project aims to create a sustainable model for integrating Ukrainian children into local communities through sport.
A week of learning, connection, and inspiration
The Camp was an immersive training programme designed to equip both young participants (Assistant Coaches) and experienced trainers (Tandem Coaches) with the skills to use sport as a tool for inclusion and community building. A mix of practical sports sessions and theoretical workshops, led by experts from the UK, US, France, Denmark, and Poland, focused on adaptive sports, trauma-informed coaching, and leadership development.
Guleed Dualeh, an expert from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, highlighted the link between sport and emotional well-being:
“Sport and psychosocial well-being really go hand in hand. Through sport and community, we can truly help them come together in groups and excel in activities they might have engaged in back home as well.”
For Mariia Severynovska, a Tandem Coach, the camp carried a personal significance:
“Understanding that integration is crucial for children who have to adapt to a completely new environment was my biggest motivation. Being part of this project means a lot to me. When children struggle with integration, the process can take much longer, but through sports and shared activities, it becomes so much easier.”
Over the week, participants explored the role of sport beyond competition, seeing it as a way to connect and collaborate:
“Before coming here, I thought winning was everything. But after this camp, I realised that competition doesn’t always have to be the most important thing,” said Maksymilian, one of the youth participants.
“Sport is more than just rivalry – it helps us connect, make new friends, and communicate, even if we don’t speak the same language.”
For many, the camp broadened their perspective and gave them practical tools to apply in their own communities:
“This camp has made me see sport and integration differently. I’ve learnt so much, and I want others to experience this as well,” reflected Maksymilian.
“I have met so many new friends here,” added Kira, another youth participant.
By the end of the week, it was clear that sport is not just about performance—it can bring people together and create opportunities to support those navigating new challenges.
A global network of expertise
The success of the Coaching for Community Camp would not have been possible without the expertise of renowned international organisations, whose methodologies and experiences enriched the programme. Experts from:
• The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (USA)
• Edgework Consulting (USA)
• StreetGames (UK)
• Fútbol Más France (France)
• Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub (Denmark)
• Olympic Refuge Foundation (Switzerland)
• Polish Red Cross (Poland)
…all played a crucial role in shaping the curriculum and delivering high-impact sessions.
Let’s Play Together – the beginning of a long-term impact
Although the Coaching for Community Camp was an intense week full of growth and learning, it was always intended to be just the beginning. The camp served as the launchpad for the broader Let’s Play Together initiative, which will continue to unfold throughout 2025 and beyond.
At the heart of Let’s Play Together is a scalable Community Sports Tandem Coaching Program, designed to serve as a model for wider implementation in other regions and countries. Alongside this, the project will develop a comprehensive Playbook, documenting best practices for organisations supporting children affected by humanitarian crises.
Starting in March 2025, trained Tandem Coaches (Polish and Ukrainian coaches working together) will begin organising regular sports activities for children in 10 locations across Wrocław. This will ensure that the methodologies and values learned at the Camp are applied in everyday settings.
“I’ve realised that sport truly brings people together. Doing something together creates a sense of community”, said Snizhana Smerechanska, a Tandem Coach.
Camp was organised by V4Sport Foundation. Local partners are Wrocławskie Centrum Rozwoju Społecznego oraz Wrocławski Szkolny Związek Sportowy. International Sport and Culture Association is an International Communication Partner.
Coaching for Community Camp is a key element of the Let’s Play Together (LPT) project, which is financed by the European Union.
Learn more about the project: https://letsplaytogether.v4sport.eu/
