On 15 May 2025, the partners of the STAY project gathered in Zagreb, Croatia, for the final project meeting – marking the last steps of a two-year journey focused on preventing youth dropout in sport across Europe.
Hosted by HAŠK Mladost, the meeting brought together representatives from all project partners, including EMCA, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Lazio Region, Sport Union of Slovenia (SUS), Levski Sofia, and more. The session served as both a full-day review of project progress and a strategic planning opportunity to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of the project’s outcomes.
Finalising Deliverables & Reflecting on the Journey
The agenda covered the remaining project deliverables, including:
- Final reports on pilot implementation and activities
- The Good Practices & Recommendations document
- The Communication and Events reports
- Final translations and additions to the STAY e-learning platform, hosted within EMCA Studia
In addition to administrative wrap-up, the meeting allowed partners to reflect on what they had achieved. From peer tutoring initiatives in HAŠK Mladost to career development paths for young athletes in Bayer Leverkusen, and from volunteer engagement programs in Levski to mentorship-focused actions in Slovenia — each partner shared stories of impact, innovation, and learning.
People Behind the Project
Key contributors at the meeting included:
- Martijn van de Rijt (EMCA), who facilitated the final planning and shared insights on knowledge-sharing across the network
- Natasha Wagner (Bayer Leverkusen), who presented outcomes from their coaching development pilot
- Gabriella Moretti (Lazio), who highlighted the success of their youth volunteering initiatives
- Mojca Doupona (SUS), who led the discussion on post-project sustainability
- Vanina Milosheva (Levski Sofia), who focused on youth empowerment through event volunteering and media roles
- Dunja Bračun (HAŠK Mladost), local host and project coordinator, who gave a heartfelt reflection on the project’s goals and challenges
What’s Next?
As the official end date of the STAY project approaches on 31 May 2025, partners are focused on ensuring that its resources — particularly the free online e-learning platform — remain accessible and useful for sports organisations across Europe.
The meeting concluded with a strong sense of community, shared ownership, and commitment to continuing the mission: keeping young people active and engaged in sport.
Partners are encouraged to share the STAY platform with their networks, explore translated content, and follow EMCA channels for upcoming stories and testimonials.
