What We Do

1. Inclusive Sport

We use sport as a tool to build empathy, understanding, and cooperation. Our activities go beyond play - they support learning, connection, and positive transformation in communities.

2. Inter and Cross-Community Engagement and Dialogue

We create opportunities for children and young people from different backgrounds to meet, interact, and build trust. By bringing communities together in shared spaces, we challenge segregation and strengthen social cohesion.

3. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Sport

We work to remove barriers that limit girls' and young women’s participation in sport. Through dedicated programmes, safe environments, and strong role models, we support confidence, equal access, and leadership pathways.

4. Youth Participation and Capacity Building

We invest in young people as leaders, facilitators, coaches, and advocates for more equal communities. Many begin as participants and grow into active changemakers who carry these values into their communities.

5. Community Partnerships and Sustainable Local Impact

We work hand-in-hand with sports schools, clubs, municipalities, and civil society organizations to strengthen networks and build long-term solutions. Our approach ensures that inclusive practice continues beyond individual events or project cycles.

1. Education, trainings & capacity building

Trainings for coaches, trainers and facilitators (ToT)

As part of our educational program, we are organizing a fairplay training seminar designed for those working on the field with children and youth. This seminar brings together youth sports coaches, teachers, educators, and activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Austria to enhance their skills in promoting human rights through sport. The primary goal is to provide skills with profound knowledge and practical tools to work on themes such as reconciliation, gender equality, human rights, and social inclusion. We aim to empower participants to recognize and combat discrimination and to use sports as a medium for dialogue. Following the training, participants become 'multipliers' who transfer the acquired knowledge to their local communities. Trained professionals will later lead Fairplay workshops for children and youth. This seminar is not just about education it is about creating a sustainable regional network of experts.

Workshops for children and youth

Fairplay workshops are designed for children and young people (aged 10-16) who want to learn about sport in a completely new way. Through this program, the sports field becomes an outdoor classroom where key social topics are addressed through games and exercises. In the workshops, we use a methodology that combines practical exercises designed to lead to further discussion and education on human rights, gender equality, reconciliation, and social inclusion. The workshops are conducted by coaches and trained 'multipliers' who have undergone intensive training. In our workshops, participants do not only learn how to score a goal, but how to become advocates for equality and solidarity. Fairplay on the field is the first step toward Fairplay in society!

2. Community Sport Programmes & Festivals

Mini Van Tour

The Mini Van Tour (MVT) is one of IZI's core programmes and a format we have been developing continuously since 2018. What started as a simple idea, to bring sport directly into communities that rarely have access to inclusive activities, has grown into a long-term, mobile programme implemented across Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans. MVT is an outreach-based programme that brings sport, play and learning into public space. We arrive with a van full of sports equipment, games and ideas, and together with local partners turn town squares, parks, school yards and neighbourhood spaces into temporary, inclusive play zones that are open, visible and welcoming to everyone. All MVT activities are inclusive and non-competitive. There are no winners, rankings or eliminations.

Girls' Football Festival

The Girls' Football Festival (GFF) is a regional programme that uses football as a space for connection, learning, and empowerment for girls. It is designed to create safe and inclusive environments where participants can play and grow together. Through sport and accompanying educational activities, GFF promotes equality, confidence, and cooperation, while simultaneously challenging the social barriers that limit girls' participation in sport.

3x3 Streetball Camp / 3x3 basketball festival

Building on years of experience in inclusive sport initiatives, IZI continues to expand its methodology beyond football. The 3x3 Streetball Camp translates the same principles into new contexts. Held in Sarajevo, the first camp brought together more than 150 young participants who were intentionally placed into mixed teams, combining boys and girls across national, ethnic and local lines. The camp concluded with a friendly tournament where every team included girls on the court at all times, reinforcing gender inclusion and fair play.

3. Youth participation & local actions

Startup Pool

Start-Up Pool is a programme that supports the development of innovative sport-based initiatives that contribute to social inclusion, equality and intercultural dialogue. It strengthens grassroots efforts and encourages locally driven solutions that respond to real social needs through targeted financial support and programme guidance.

Youth panels and peer learning activities

These activities create structured spaces where young people can actively contribute, share perspectives and learn from one another. Youth panels bring together young people from different backgrounds. Peer learning supports confidence building, communication skills and cooperation, while reinforcing the value of mutual respect.

Awareness and advocacy campaigns

IZI develops awareness and advocacy campaigns that make our work and values visible beyond the playing field. Our campaigns grow out of programmes such as the Mini Van Tour and Girls' Football Festival. We use a mix of digital communication, creative content, and public events to reach different audiences and promote fairer practices and inclusive policies.

4. Dialogue, networking & cooperation

Roundtables

IZI organises roundtables as focused spaces for open discussion and exchange between local and regional actors working in sport, youth and community development. These gatherings are designed to be practical and participatory, encouraging honest dialogue.

Conferences

Conferences provide broader platforms for learning, visibility and advocacy. They connect grassroots experience with regional and international perspectives around shared themes such as inclusive sport, women's football, youth participation and fair play.