Within the scope of the project aiming for child athletes to practice sports in a safe and supportive environment, activities will be carried out to strengthen the child protection approach within the club. Approximately 300 child athletes in the academy and the coaches, administrative staff, and managers within the club will be involved in the process. The goal is to develop preventive mechanisms against risks such as peer bullying, violence, exclusion, and neglect that children may face.
Preventive approach instead of reactive measures
The Play Safe vision, shaped under the guidance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 3, 12, 16, 19, and 31), advocates that a child’s relationship with sports should be measured not only by their talent and performance on the field but also by the protection of their physical and mental integrity.
As part of the work, risk assessments will be conducted at the facilities, a child protection policy and code of conduct will be prepared, and reporting mechanisms will be established, allowing children and witnesses to submit notifications safely.
It is planned that the experiences gained at the end of the project will be turned into a child protection guide that amateur sports clubs can also use.
The “Play Safe: Eskişehirspor Model” project is supported as part of the Advocacy for Children’s Accountability and Rights (ACAR) Project Civil Society Organizations Cooperation Program, implemented by UNICEF with co-financing from the European Union.