Building Bridges Across Borders
In an inspiring display of cross-border knowledge sharing, a delegation from Moldova recently visited the Swedish municipality of Tomelilla to learn about their innovative approaches to social services and community collaboration. This exchange particularly resonates with us at Cross Cultures Project Association, as it reflects our own mission of building bridges across communities and fostering peaceful coexistence through cooperation.
Learning from European Best Practices
The Moldovan delegation, comprised primarily of state representatives, focused on understanding how Tomelilla coordinates between social services, schools, police, and civil society organizations. As Moldova progresses toward potential EU membership, such insights into successful European social systems become increasingly valuable.
The Power of Community Engagement
At Cross Cultures, we’ve witnessed firsthand the power of community collaboration through our Open Fun Football Schools program, which has reached over 1.76 million beneficiaries across 24 countries since 1998. Our experience shows that sustainable social change often starts at the grassroots level, much like Tomelilla’s partnership with Save the Children demonstrates.
Successful Models of Public-Civil Society Partnership
Fredrik Gullstrand, head of the resource unit in Tomelilla municipality, highlighted their successful public-civil society partnership model – an approach that aligns closely with our own methodology of engaging local volunteers and community leaders. In South Sudan alone, our program has mobilized over 2,000 volunteers who work tirelessly to create positive change in their communities.
Youth Development and Social Integration
The Moldovan delegation’s particular interest in early intervention programs for at-risk youth and families mirrors our own focus on using sport as a tool for social integration and peace-building. Through our fun football approach, we’ve seen how structured community engagement can create lasting positive impact, especially in communities undergoing significant transitions – much like Moldova’s current journey toward EU integration.
The Path Forward: International Cooperation
This exchange between Tomelilla and Moldova exemplifies the kind of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing that can lead to meaningful social development. It reminds us that regardless of whether we’re using football or social services as our tool, the core principles of community engagement, volunteer participation, and cross-sector collaboration remain crucial for building peaceful, sustainable societies.
Cross Cultures Project Association has been promoting peace and reconciliation through sport since 1998, reaching over 1.76 million beneficiaries across 24 countries. Our Open Fun Football Schools program continues to create positive change in communities worldwide.
