The challenges faced by female athletes in building dual careers have long been overlooked, but projects like Aurora Adriatic (2020-2021) and WIN – What Women Need are paving the way for a more inclusive and empowering future. By equipping athletes with the skills needed to balance sports with professional development, these initiatives highlight the transformative potential of education, mentorship, and community support.
Aurora Adriatic: Building Foundations for Dual Careers
The Aurora Adriatic project, co-funded by Erasmus+ and managed by FT Komet, the tutor club of FT Novi Jelkovec, aimed to address the lack of professional skills among staff and athletes in grassroots sports clubs. Through a learning-by-doing approach, the project offered modules in nutrition, sport psychology, internal administration, and external relations.
Key to the initiative was its focus on enabling participants to manage sports organizations independently, creating sustainable models for their development. Clubs like Female Football Club Breznica from Montenegro and Female Football Club Tiverija from North Macedonia played pivotal roles in the project. Their efforts highlighted the need for structured dual-career pathways, especially for women transitioning from active sports to managerial or coaching roles.
Breznica and Tiverija: Champions of Women’s Sports
Both clubs have been instrumental in advancing women’s football in their regions, despite limited resources. Breznica, a four-time champion of Montenegro’s women’s football league, has hosted multiple UEFA qualifiers and championed grassroots football development. Tiverija, known for its outstanding youth academy in North Macedonia, has consistently produced top-level players while promoting gender equality.
However, both clubs identified critical challenges:
- Retention of talent: Many players struggled to remain engaged in sports after their athletic careers ended.
- Skills for transition: Female athletes often lacked opportunities to develop managerial or entrepreneurial skills for careers beyond the pitch.
- Access to resources: Limited funding and training opportunities hindered their ability to support dual careers.
Aurora Adriatic provided a platform to address these gaps, enabling former athletes to gain skills in coaching, management, and club development.
Connecting to WIN – What Women Need
The WIN project builds on this foundation by addressing the broader needs of women in sports. Focused on empowering women through education, mentorship, and international collaboration, WIN emphasizes:
- Leadership development: Creating pathways for women to assume leadership roles in sports organizations.
- Mental health and well-being: Providing support systems to navigate the challenges of dual careers.
- Networking opportunities: Building transnational networks to share best practices and foster innovation in women’s sports.
By aligning with Aurora Adriatic’s focus on dual careers, WIN creates a comprehensive framework to support female athletes throughout their sporting and professional journeys.
A Vision for the Future
The synergy between Aurora Adriatic and WIN demonstrates the value of combining education, mentorship, and international collaboration to empower women in sports. For clubs like Breznica and Tiverija, these projects offer a blueprint for creating sustainable opportunities for female athletes, ensuring they thrive both on and off the field.
As the WIN project continues to expand its reach, it holds the promise of reshaping the landscape of women’s sports in Europe, fostering a generation of leaders ready to inspire change in their communities and beyond.
This article highlights the interconnected goals of Aurora Adriatic and WIN, emphasizing their shared vision of empowering women through sport and dual career development. Let me know if you’d like further refinement!
