Today, on World Children's Day, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Sports, the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination, the Football Federation of Macedonia and UNICEF launched the campaign "One team for every child – zero discrimination."
The initiative aims to promote fair play, inclusion and respect for every child, with a particular focus on girls, Roma children and children with disabilities.
"We are united in caring for children and youth. And that is good, because only together can we achieve the goal – to have healthy generations with quality knowledge. Education is the right way to build sports values. Through curricular and extracurricular activities, we lay the foundations for healthy sports ethics, for respecting diversity and for encouraging the participation of all children – girls, members of the Roma community and children with disabilities," said Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska.
She emphasized that the campaign is an opportunity to deepen the teaching content on these topics, and to use the extended stay in school, which the Ministry advocates, for extracurricular activities to build a culture of fair play and inclusion.
"The Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination is very pleased to join this joint initiative and we thank the partners from the FFM, the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education and Science for their willingness to implement this type of campaign. Huge gratitude also for the support from the UNICEF Office, which is essential to ensure a systemic approach to protecting children from discrimination in sports. Together we can and must create an environment in which every child will feel safe, accepted and encouraged to participate. There is no place for prejudice and stereotypes in football – there is only place for respect, fair play and equality” – stressed the President of the KSZD, Dušan Tomšić.
At the event, children and young athletes had the opportunity to participate in an open panel discussion with football players who shared their experiences with discrimination in sports.
“We are here to show that diversity is strength and that there is a place for everyone in our team. A team in which there is no place for discrimination, hate speech or exclusion. A team in which everyone has the right to dream and succeed,” said Leonid Jandreoski, Secretary General, FFM.
“Whether it is based on ethnicity, gender, disability or socio-economic background, discrimination limits children’s learning, well-being and opportunities throughout their lives. When there is fair play, solidarity and respect, the impact can be transformative. We can all be part of this change, and we count on children and young people to lead the change,” said UNICEF Representative Leslie Miller.
She called them. young athletes to treat others the way they would like to be treated and to speak up when they notice discrimination; coaches and parents to lead by example and set rules with zero tolerance for discrimination, and leaders and policymakers to ensure that every child can participate in sports without discrimination and to expand inclusive programs in schools, clubs and the community.
During the event, children and players from the national team drafted the pledge “A Team for Every Child”. The pledge will be shared with all clubs in the country, with young athletes encouraged to read it before every match and training session. It will serve as a reminder of the importance of a culture of fair play, respect and solidarity in sport, and speaking out whenever injustice is noticed.
During the campaign, schools and sports clubs will receive support to organize discussions on these topics in order for children to more easily recognize prejudice, understand how discrimination affects them, and learn how to report cases of discrimination in sports.
During the campaign, from November 20, 2025 to March 1, 2026, partners will convey the message that there is a place for everyone on our team.
