Creating safer sporting environments requires more than good intentions – it demands collaboration between experts with diverse backgrounds and complementary skills. The SAFE SPORT project brings together organizations that combine expertise in sport, education, psychology, social inclusion, and digital innovation to address some of the most pressing challenges facing sport today.

From promoting ethical leadership and equality in sport to strengthening mental well-being and developing innovative digital solutions, each project partner contributes a unique perspective. Together, they form a multidisciplinary team committed to making sport a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for everyone.

Meet the organizations driving the SAFE SPORT project forward.

National Sport Leaders Network from North Macedonia

Founded in 2018, the National Sport Leaders Network (NSLN) was established by a group of passionate professionals who share a common vision: creating positive social change through sport. Their journey began when twelve future founders participated in the prestigious Sport Diplomacy Program at George Mason University in the United States. Inspired by the experience, they returned home determined to apply what they had learned by building an organization dedicated to using sport as a force for good across Europe.

Since then, NSLN has grown into a national network of more than twenty professionals working to expand access to sport while promoting values that strengthen communities. The organization believes that every child should have the opportunity to participate in recreational and competitive sport regardless of their background, while developing important ethical and social values that extend far beyond the field.

The network’s work is guided by four strategic priorities: peacebuilding and social cohesion through sport, combating racism and discrimination, promoting gender equality, and advancing education through sport. These pillars make NSLN a valuable partner in SAFE SPORT, where creating respectful, inclusive, and secure sporting environments lies at the heart of the project’s mission.

By combining practical experience with a strong commitment to social impact, NSLN demonstrates how sport can become a powerful catalyst for inclusion, equality, and community development.

Beautiful Minds Academy from Serbia

SAFE SPORT recognizes that creating safe sporting environments is not only about policies and procedures – it is also about people. This is where psychologists and therapists Jelena Stanivuković and David Ramadani bring invaluable expertise.

Drawing on years of professional practice in psychology and psychotherapy, they have developed practical tools and educational programs focused on emotional resilience, communication, and personal growth. Their work has already reached more than 30,000 people across the Balkans, while their methods have been refined through direct work with over 2,000 individuals.

Jelena, a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, certified ATOS practitioner, and hypnotherapist, specializes in helping people understand the thought patterns that shape their emotional well-being. Her work encourages individuals to replace self-criticism with healthier ways of thinking, allowing them to build confidence and resilience.

David, a psychologist and REBT psychotherapist under supervision, shares a similar philosophy. He believes that true strength comes from accepting responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and actions rather than being defined by external circumstances. His approach emphasizes discipline, personal responsibility, and continuous mental growth.

Together, their educational philosophy is built around three essential pillars:

• Emotional Intelligence – developing healthy communication, empathy, and respectful relationships.
• Self-Confidence – empowering individuals to establish boundaries, express themselves, and act with authenticity.
• Mental Strength – providing practical strategies to manage anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional pressure.

These competencies are particularly relevant within sport, where athletes, coaches, and sports professionals regularly face intense emotional demands. By promoting psychological well-being alongside technical skills, Jelena and David help ensure that SAFE SPORT addresses not only physical safety but also the mental and emotional health of everyone involved.

Bulgarian sports development association

Since its establishment in 2010, the Bulgarian sports development association (BSDA) has become one of Bulgaria’s leading organizations dedicated to promoting sport as a driver of education, inclusion, and social development.

Working as a nonprofit public benefit organization, BSDA believes that sport should be accessible to everyone while serving as a platform for learning, active citizenship, and personal development. Its activities extend well beyond traditional sport, connecting physical activity with education, entrepreneurship, volunteering, and community engagement.

The association’s work focuses on several strategic priorities, including reviving sporting culture, promoting volunteering, supporting education through sport, encouraging good governance, fostering integration and inclusion, and preparing young people with the skills needed for the future.

At the core of BSDA’s philosophy is the belief that sport teaches values that are essential both on and off the field: integrity, teamwork, discipline, fairness, equality, and respect. These values also play a crucial role in preventing social exclusion, violence, discrimination, and other challenges affecting young people.

One of BSDA’s greatest strengths is its multidisciplinary team, bringing together experts in sport management, education, media, marketing, tourism, entrepreneurship, and youth development. This broad expertise enables the organization to design innovative European projects that combine practical experience with evidence-based educational approaches.

Within SAFE SPORT, BSDA contributes significant experience in project management, educational methodology, stakeholder engagement, and the development of sustainable practices that strengthen safe, ethical, and inclusive sporting environments across Europe.

Unicis.Tech from Estonia

As sport becomes increasingly digital, protecting organizations also means strengthening their cybersecurity, governance, and compliance practices. This is where Unicis.Tech OÜ adds an important technological dimension to the SAFE SPORT partnership.

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, Unicis.Tech develops open-source Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms designed primarily for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. The company’s solutions help organizations manage regulatory requirements and strengthen their information security through internationally recognized frameworks such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and SOC 2.

Although originating from the technology sector, Unicis.Tech’s expertise is highly relevant to modern sport organizations, which increasingly rely on digital systems to manage participant data, communications, safeguarding procedures, and organizational governance.

By combining open-source innovation with practical compliance solutions, Unicis.Tech supports SAFE SPORT in integrating secure digital practices into the project’s educational framework. Their contribution helps ensure that safe sport is understood not only as physical and psychological protection, but also as responsible digital governance and data security.

What makes SAFE SPORT particularly strong is the diversity of its partnership. The consortium brings together organizations working in community sport, education, psychology, youth development, governance, and technology. Each partner contributes specialized knowledge while sharing a common commitment to creating sporting environments built on respect, inclusion, integrity, and safety.

Together, these experts are developing practical resources, educational programmes, and innovative approaches that will help coaches, educators, sport organizations, and participants build cultures where everyone can thrive.

As the SAFE SPORT project progresses, this multidisciplinary collaboration will continue to transform expertise into practical solutions, ensuring that safe sport is not simply an aspiration, but a reality for communities across Europe.