In June 2023, youth workers from across Europe met in Cefalù, Sicily, for an Erasmus+ training course called Deuce for Diversity. The project focused on promoting inclusion and diversity through sport—especially tennis. It gathered 35 youth workers from different countries and cultural backgrounds and created a learning environment where sport became a tool to understand others and include those who are often left out. The project used a unique mix of non-formal workshops and a real tennis tournament to explore how physical activity could support social change. For the team from North Macedonia, the experience was a turning point. It helped them see how simple, practical actions could break down invisible walls in their communities and build bridges among young people.
In May 2023, the situation for young people in North Macedonia was difficult in many areas, especially in terms of social inclusion. In many towns and villages, young people from different ethnic backgrounds had very little contact with each other. Roma youth, for example, continued to face discrimination in schools and public spaces. Many teenagers with disabilities were still not included in most youth programs. There was also a strong gender gap in sports. Girls often did not feel welcome or safe in public sport spaces, and very few sport activities were adapted to support those from vulnerable groups. Many youth workers wanted to help, but they didn’t always know how to address these challenges in a way that felt respectful and inclusive. There was a strong need for new tools and strategies that could bring people together in a non-judgmental and open way.
The participants from Svetla Idnina – Bright Future joined Deuce for Diversity looking for inspiration. When they arrived in Cefalù, they immediately felt the power of being part of an international team. The training did not feel like a normal course. It was full of energy, movement, and honest conversations. One of the most powerful elements was the practical tennis tournament, where participants were grouped into mixed teams. The rules were designed so that it did not matter if someone was good or bad at tennis. What mattered was communication, support, and learning from each other. Even people who had never played before became active members of their team. That was the first lesson the Macedonian team took to heart: inclusion doesn’t mean changing people—it means changing the environment so that everyone feels welcome.
Another eye-opening part of the training was the way sport was connected to values. Every tennis session ended with a reflection about what was learned—not only about sport techniques, but about how people acted, listened, and solved problems. During workshops, participants shared experiences from their own countries. One team from Greece had organized local sport events where migrants and locals played together. Another team from Finland had created a girl-only football club to help girls from refugee families feel safer. These stories helped the team from North Macedonia understand that inclusion was not about big budgets or professional athletes. It was about small, thoughtful actions. They also learned how non-formal education methods could help create emotional safety and team spirit in sport activities.
Returning home after the training, the youth workers from Svetla Idnina – Bright Future wanted to put their new knowledge into action. They designed a small pilot program called Together on the Court. The program focused on bringing together young people from different ethnic backgrounds in their town, including Roma and Albanian youth, and offering them a weekly sport session based on the methods from Sicily. The idea was simple: use tennis to connect young people who rarely interacted with each other. With support from a local school and a small tennis club, they organized sessions that were open to all and free of charge. The rules were similar to the ones used in Cefalù: mixed teams, no pressure to win, and regular moments for group reflection. The sessions included games, basic tennis skills, and group discussions on diversity, respect, and teamwork.
The response was better than expected. Young people who usually stayed in their own social circles started to interact. At the beginning, some were shy or unsure. But after a few weeks, friendships started to grow. Many said they had never talked to someone from “the other group” before. Girls who had never played sports in public felt safe to participate. One Roma participant shared that it was the first time he felt like he belonged in a community activity. The project also changed how parents and teachers saw the young people. A local school director said the program helped reduce tensions among students during regular classes. The municipality became interested and offered to help find a bigger space for the sessions.
The impact of Together on the Court went beyond the tennis court. It created new relationships, opened minds, and built confidence—both among the youth and the youth workers. The experience also gave the NGO more visibility in the local community. Other organizations became curious about the method, and a few schools asked for similar workshops. The youth workers began developing a short training module for other educators, based on what they learned in Cefalù. They also translated some of the tools they used during the Erasmus+ training so they could be shared more widely in the Macedonian language.
What started as a one-week training in Sicily became the beginning of a long-term change process in a small town in North Macedonia. For the youth workers, it was not only about tennis. It was about discovering how something as simple as a sport activity can open doors to deeper conversations and new ways of living together. They realized that young people are hungry for connection, for fairness, and for spaces where they can feel safe and seen. When those spaces are created, change happens naturally.
Looking ahead, the team from Svetla Idnina – Bright Future wants to expand the project. They plan to organize an annual inclusion tournament where young people from different regions can meet and play together. They hope to include more youth with disabilities, and to offer leadership training for girls who want to become coaches or facilitators. They also want to share their experience with local decision-makers, to help bring more inclusive sport policies to youth centers and schools. For them, Deuce for Diversity was not just a project—it was a model for how Europe can come together through values, action, and youth power.
The training in Cefalù reminded everyone that big change starts with small steps. A ball, a racket, and an open heart can do more than many long speeches. Youth have the energy, the creativity, and the courage to change their communities. They just need the right tools and the belief that their actions matter. Projects like Deuce for Diversity offer more than education. They offer hope. And when young people carry that hope home, entire communities begin to transform.