The project "Strengthening The Employment Perspective in Disability Sport Sector- STEPin" is funded by the European Union under the IPA II Cross-border Program Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014-2020 with the support of the Ministry of European Integration and the Directorate for European Integration Bosnia and Herzegovina. Funds intended for the implementation of this project amount to 141,347.73 EUR, the European Union co-finances in the amount of 120,145.57 EUR. The contracting authority for this project is the Ministry of Finance, Sector for Contracting and Financing of Programs from European Union Funds (CFCU) of the Republic of Serbia.

The project is jointly implemented by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Paralympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the University of Novi Sad and Taekwondo Club Zmaj in Ruma.

The goal of the STEPin project is to strengthen the employment perspective of young people through education in the field of professional services in the sector for sports for people with disabilities. This sector, so far unexplored, represents an innovative approach to increasing employability in the cross-border region, which has not yet found its place in previous curricula and formal education, but is realized through the personal efforts of individuals working as coaches, sports administrators, professors of sports and physical education and health studies. In addition to providing access to new services and employment opportunities, STEPin will contribute to social inclusion in the cross-border area and improve opportunities for people with disabilities to play sports.

One of the first activities of the project was the organization of the Opening Conference in Sarajevo on July 17, 2021., in order to acquaint the target group of the project, but also the general public with the activities of the STEPin project, which will last until 18.08.2022. Eminent lecturers such as, prof.dr.sc. Mirsad Muftić, prof.dr.Kada Delić - Selimović, Tomislav Cvitanušić and others, with their many years of experience and in a practical way presented all aspects relevant to the problem of employment in the sports sector for people with disabilities, and during Q&A sessions talked to conference participants.

"For the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the realization of the STEPin project is a continuation of our previous efforts to provide everyone with equal conditions to play sports. Previous research has shown that what is most lacking in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia is precisely educated staff who will work with people with disabilities in sports. Therefore, STEPin project aims to provide new knowledge and practical advice for all those who have experience in working with people with disabilities in sports, and especially for those who have not had the opportunity to be educated in this field and work or would like to work with people with disabilities in sports. Knowledge is power and today's transferred knowledge and experience of top experts will certainly improve the sport of people with disabilities, "said Aela Ajdinović, STEPin project manager of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Finally, the participants were introduced to the activities of the STEPin project, with special emphasis on the launch of the STEPin platform, which will provide opportunities for participation in online training, and which will be specially created for employment in the sports sector for people with disabilities. In addition to online education, practical training sessions will be organized with a focus on the skills and knowledge of potential international classifiers. Participants in the training will have the opportunity to attend training sessions of international classifiers in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.