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 light sports facilities in five care centers and creating a unique Soft Program Training Manual, we’ve not only met our goals but exceeded them, creating lasting benefits for both the youth and their communities.
Bringing More Physical Activity to Over 500 Youth
According to Eurobarometer surveys, as of September 2022, 45% of Europeans do not play sports or take part in any physical activity. That is why one of our main goals was to help more than 500 socially disadvantaged and institutionalized youngsters get active. With the support of our partner, SPF Bulgaria,and the municipalities of Vratsa, Dolna Banya, Pleven, Samokov, and Plovdiv, we’ve built sports facilities that are now buzzing with energy. These facilities are not just for the youth in care centers—they’re open to everyone in the community. We’ve seen young people engaging in sports and enjoying the benefits of regular physical activity, with the facilities helping to foster healthier lifestyles.
Expanding Our Reach:
From 5 to 10 Sports Facilities
Originally, we planned to build five sports facilities. However, thanks to the incredible support from local municipalities, we ended up doubling that number, creating ten new outdoor gyms across five cities. These facilities are now permanent fixtures in their communities, available for everyone to use and enjoy.
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. To add more value, a workout video was produced to show youth effective, yet safe exercises for their daily routines.
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.
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. To add more value, a workout video was produced to show youth effective, yet safe exercises for their daily routines.