Sixth season of "Handball For Every Child" launches

With the start of the new school year the sixth season of the Handball For Every Child project is under way, bringing demo trainings and open matches aimed at introducing children to handball across Skopje and Veles.

The campaign runs under the slogan "Time for handball!" and throughout September will stage a series of outdoor activities — demo sessions and small-sided and full handball matches — designed to let youngsters aged 6 to 13 try the sport, enter a hall for the first time, and make new friends through play.

Project format and expansion

The initiative operates through three main pillars: a handball school in Skopje and Veles, the "Junior Cup" mini-handball tournament system, and the international camp "40x20" held each summer in Ohrid. The project began in 2021 and over the past seasons has engaged hundreds of children through schools, tournaments and the camp.

"Handball in North Macedonia has been the number-one sport for years, supported by club and national team results. But we cannot be satisfied with that alone. If we want handball to have a future, we must be present where the children are — in neighbourhoods, parks and outdoor courts.

Last year we asked 'Is anyone up for handball?'. This year we say: 'Time for handball!'. It's time for children to return to sport, to socialising and to the halls. Our goal is to make handball accessible and appealing to as many children as possible, regardless of whether one day they will become elite athletes or whether handball will remain a part of their childhood," says Goran Gjorgonoski, founder and coordinator of Handball For Every Child.

One new element this season is that the "Junior Cup" is opened to schools and teams outside the project's regular network for players born in 2017 and younger, to ensure the youngest age groups get enough matches across the year to develop competitive experience and reinforce skills. All events are open to any interested children and participation is free to join the demo sessions.

Organisers stress that digitalisation and changing lifestyles have altered children's habits, increasing competition for their free time. "Children's habits have changed. Today the competition for their free time is huge, and sport must find ways to become interesting again. Our first task is to get them into the hall, but even more important is to create an environment where they will want to stay," Gjorgonoski adds.

Those who want to take part are invited to drop in at scheduled demo sessions in September — organisers say: "Time for a new season. Time for new children. Time for handball!" Sporting regards, Goran Gjorgonoski, Coordinator of the Handball For Every Child project.

Photo: press material from the event