As part of the Youth Placemaking Balkans (YPB) project, ISA organised a series of national mentorship workshops in Croatia aimed at strengthening young people’s understanding of placemaking, community engagement, and inclusive public space development.

The workshops were implemented in three different local contexts — Trogir, Osijek, and Zagreb — engaging diverse target groups including PwID, university students, and youth athletes. Through these activities, ISA promoted the idea that young people can actively contribute to shaping safer, more inclusive, and more attractive public spaces for sport and recreation.

Inclusive Placemaking Workshop with People with Intellectual Disabilities in Trogir

The first mentorship workshop took place on 9 February 2025 in Trogir, bringing together approximately 25 participants, including people with intellectual disabilities, their caregivers, family members, and sport professionals.

The workshop was carefully adapted to ensure meaningful participation for all attendees. Sessions focused on introducing placemaking concepts in a simple and accessible way, highlighting the importance of inclusive public spaces and encouraging participants to share their own ideas for improving their local environments.

Participants explored how teamwork, creativity, and civic engagement can contribute to positive community change. Interactive discussions resulted in a wide range of ideas, such as improving green areas, creating safer crossings, and designing welcoming public spaces. The workshop also helped caregivers and experts gain new approaches to supporting PwID in community initiatives.

Engaging Future Sport Professionals at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Osijek

The second mentorship workshop was organised on 27 February 2025 at the Faculty of Kinesiology (KIFOS) in Osijek, involving 41 students and professors.

This session introduced placemaking as a collaborative approach to transforming public spaces and highlighted the role of young professionals in urban development and sport activation.

Through group discussions and brainstorming activities, students analysed local public spaces in need of improvement and proposed creative solutions to enhance accessibility, safety, and community use.

Follow-up resources and links to online learning materials were shared to support continued engagement beyond the workshop.

Empowering Female Youth Athletes in Zagreb

The third mentorship workshop took place on 20 March 2025 in Zagreb, involving 20 female youth handball players and their coaches. This session explored the connection between sport participation, urban environments, and inclusive community development.

Participants discussed challenges related to public sport infrastructure, including insufficient lighting, unsafe surfaces, and a lack of female-friendly facilities. Through interactive activities, young athletes proposed ideas to improve outdoor courts, develop safe running paths, and create accessible training zones.

The workshop highlighted the importance of involving young athletes in decision-making processes related to sports spaces and demonstrated how even small improvements can significantly increase participation and well-being.

Building Skills, Awareness, and Long-Term Engagement

Across all mentorship workshops, participants developed key competencies such as teamwork, critical thinking, communication, and civic responsibility. They also gained practical knowledge about participatory urban planning processes and the role of sport in community activation.

While facilitators faced challenges, including limited prior awareness of placemaking concepts and time constraints during sessions, the workshops successfully laid a foundation for continued youth engagement. Sustainability was ensured by providing participants with follow-up learning materials, connecting them with local initiatives, and encouraging their involvement in future placemaking interventions and Erasmus+ activities.