Building Innovative Light Sport Facilities in institutional care centers (BILSF)
Empowering Youth, Building Futures Through Sport
The story of BILSF project
Our mission was simple yet impactful: to encourage a more active lifestyle among socially disadvantaged and institutionalized young people in Bulgaria. By building 10 light sports facilities in 5 municipalities in Bulgaria and creating a Soft Program Training Manual, we created lasting benefits for both the youth and their communities.
Bringing More Physical Activity to Over 500 Youth
To help more than 500 socially disadvantaged and institutionalized youngsters get active, together with our partner, SPF Bulgaria, and the municipalities of Vratsa, Dolna Banya, Pleven, Samokov, and Plovdiv, we upscaled the initial plan by doubling the number of the sport facilities from 5 to 10.
"According to Eurobarometer surveys, as of September 2022, 45% of Europeans do not play sports or take part in any physical activity."
We’ve seen young people engaging in sports and enjoying the benefits of regular physical activity, with the facilities helping to foster healthier lifestyles across communities.
Making Fitness Fun and Accessible:
Our Soft Program Training Manual & Workout video
To ensure everyone can make the most of these new facilities, we teamed up with Street Workout Bulgaria to create the Soft Program Training Manual. This guide is packed with exercises for all skill levels and includes video demonstrations in both Bulgarian and English.
A Lasting Impact on Youth and Communities
The project’s impact has been profound. Over 500 young people have seen improvements in their physical health and well-being, thanks to regular access to these new sports facilities and the organised training sessions in all five cities. With the additional facilities open to the public, more people are getting active, fostering a stronger sense of community and a healthier lifestyle for all.
This project has not only brought about positive change in Bulgaria but has also set a standard for similar initiatives across Europe. The light sports facilities are adaptable and low-cost, making them an ideal solution for promoting physical activity in other regions.
5 cities
Samokov, Dolna Banya, Vats Pleven and Plovdiv
Over 500 youth
More than 500 socially disadvantaged and institutionalized youngsters have improved their physical activity through regular exercises at the sport facilities
10 facilities
Instead of 5, 10 outdoor gyms were built
17 training sessions
Empowered trainers shared their tips of effective, yet safe training sessions across 5 cities in Bulgaria
Knowledge sharing
Certified trainers shared their experience about exercising and healthy diets in a Soft Training Manual, available in English and Bulgarian
Practice makes it perfect
A workout video, showing youngsters different types of exercises for beginners and advanced trainees has been developed to make practice easier and safer