IURTS Webinar: Harnessing the power of sport and play to transform the lives of children on the move in the classroom

World Children’s Day, celebrated annually on November 20th, marks the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This year, in celebration of the 35th anniversary, we invite you to join us at Laureus SportLab to explore the critical role of sport and physical activity in supporting the fundamental rights of children on the move, ensuring their inclusion, participation, and healthy development.

As outlined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child has the right to grow up in a safe and inclusive environment, free from discrimination. Yet, children on the move often lack access to these conditions.

In this webinar, we will introduce the Integration of Ukrainian Refugee Children Through Sport (IURTS), a two-year project funded by the European Union (Erasmus+) and implemented in schools across Poland and Romania. A consortium of organisations, including Laureus Sport for Good, ISCA, V4Sport, Suceava Sport for All Association, Terre des Hommes Romania, and UNICAS, have collaborated on this initiative since January 2023, which is now reaching completion.

Join us to learn about the project's key achievements and insights from those involved. Experts and teachers will share their firsthand experiences and discuss the project’s impact in their classrooms. This is an invaluable opportunity to discover how educators worldwide can use sport and physical activity to create safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces for all children to learn, grow, and build lasting friendships.

SPEAKERS

Clifford Speck, Child Protection Officer in the Child Protection Unit of UNHCR’s Division of International Protection, has extensive experience in Best Interests Procedure, Unaccompanied and Separated Children / Alternative Care, Child-Friendly Asylum and Solutions procedures, and Children in Mixed Movements, gained through his work in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Mozambique, Colombia and Hungary.

Cristina Vladescu, MHPSS Senior Coordinator - Migration Department, from Terre des hommes Romania
Lidia Piccerillo, PhD candidate at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, specialising in physical activity, health and the impact of social media on youth development. Her research also focuses on the integration of vulnerable groups through sports-based initiatives, promoting inclusion and social cohesion.
Jolanta Makowska-Wróbel, early education teacher at Primary School No. 6 in Świdnica, Poland. She serves as the school coordinator for various sports programs, including "Active Dolnoślązaczek" and "Little Master." She also promotes national and international project-based activities, such as “We Play Together” and "Active Sister Schools."

Alexandrina Jijie, physical educator and the deputy director of the "Ion Creangă" Secondary School in Suceava, Romania. Alongside her 26 years of experience in education, she has participated in numerous Erasmus programmes, specialising in refugee children in mainstreamed secondary education.

Adriana Maria Nichitean, psychologist and psychotherapist, vice-president of the Association of Educators from Suceava and director of the County Center for Educational Resources and Assistance in Suceava, Romania. With 29 years of experience in the field of education she is also  vice-president of the Association of Educators from Suceava and has produced and moderated TV show on a regional television station, in which she addresses various topics related to education