Change Makers take the field against discrimination

The European Change Makers project continues, with Uisp partnering with organisations from Germany, Denmark, Norway and Slovenia, led by ISCA-International Sport and Culture Association. Each partner has selected a number of people to entrust with an important mission: to make grassroots sport safer, fairer and more equitable.

Change Makers are people from different backgrounds linked to the community who bring their experiences and new perspectives to the grassroots sports sector. Through training, mentoring and active roles in partner organisations, Change Makers help to define policies, guide debate and promote concrete change from within the various associations.

For UISP, we have chosen two people who are particularly involved in the fight against discrimination:

Hamid Youssef Buonfigli works for the UISP Umbria Committee, where he is responsible for intercultural policies and cooperation. With over ten years of experience as a cultural mediator in refugee reception projects, he brings a deep understanding of inclusion and communication. He values honesty and sees the ChangeMakers project as an opportunity to build strategies for a more connected global society, always keeping in mind Victor Borge's quote: “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people”.

‘I expect the Changemaker project to become a real space for discussion and growth to strengthen policies against all forms of discrimination in grassroots sport,’ said Buonfigli. "In my work, I meet people with different stories, cultures and backgrounds every day, and I believe that this diversity is a valuable asset that should also be promoted in sport. Through dialogue and collaboration between associations, we can build more inclusive, safe and open sporting environments for everyone. For me, this project also represents an opportunity to bring the experience of intercultural work to the world of sport and help create more united and aware communities."

Alfredo Notartomaso Alfredo is the president of the provincial committee of Parma in Emilia-Romagna and has long been active in the fields of sport and anti-racism. He is the manager of the La Paz Antirazzista football team, where he coached the first team for several years. Passionate about drawing and writing, he sees sport as a tool for bridging the cultural divide and supporting asylum seekers.

Alfredo is committed to strengthening the integration of people with a migrant background and combating all forms of discrimination through grassroots initiatives.

"If I had to imagine the sport of the future, I would see the construction of physical and political places where barriers of all kinds and types are broken down. The work we are doing with the ChangeMakers project will contribute massively to ensuring that people pass through these places without fear of being subjected to discrimination of various kinds and types, from ability to origin to gender identity. This is a goal of cultural change that we are ready to pursue."

During 2026, several focus groups will be organised throughout Italy to analyse our safeguarding policies and strategies together with sports associations, organisations working with victims of discrimination, research centres and universities, national and local UISP managers and, of course, the various safeguarding officers. To encourage dialogue, a series of short webinars on various topics are also planned.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.