MIES (Switzerland) – The fast-paced action of continental basketball often makes one forget the equally frenetic battles within the minds of top athletes.
As the world gears up for Mental Health Day on October 10, two targeted Basketball For Good actions at this year’s EuroBasket Youth events brought much-needed focus on this often-ignored aspect of public health.
Led by FIBA Foundation Youth Leaders Monika Gjorgjievska and Edita Medunjanin, distinct initiatives were undertaken in North Macedonia and Kosovo, respectively.
Embracing the Outdoors
In North Macedonia, during the FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division B held in Skopje from August 6 to 12, Gjorgjievska built on her existing “Where is your mind?!” project.
40 young players from across national teams took part in discussions and fun, creative activities. Through games and outdoor challenges, the engagements aimed to reduce stigma, encourage teamwork, and support overall well-being—bridging mental health awareness with the power of sport and nature.
“Being part of the basketball world already, I spent a lot of time watching how people behave—how they talk, yell, and interact. I realized that something essential was missing: emotional intelligence,” Monika Gjorgjievska said, explaining the inspiration behind the program.
Yoga Meets Basketball
Across the Balkan border in Pejë, Kosovo, Youth Leader Edita Medunjanin and Basketball For Good coordinator Rrezarta Kqiku, both keen yoga practitioners, were eager to introduce the mindful practice to the players at U16 Women’s EuroBasket Division C.
“We were inspired by the fact that basketball is not only physically demanding but also emotionally and mentally intense, especially for young female athletes. Through yoga and mindfulness, we aimed to give the players tools to manage stress, prevent injuries, and take care of their overall well-being,” they said.
Their project, titled ‘Mind Over Match’, witnessed the active involvement of players from all eight participating countries. Athletes were divided into 3 groups, with each session lasting 60 minutes. Led by a local certified yoga instructor, a Kosovo-based approach to mindfulness and movement was applied, connecting international basketball with the local community’s own resources.
FIBA Events: Beyond the Court
The mental health initiatives in North Macedonia and Kosovo were part of a larger series of Basketball For Good activations across the summer at the Youth EuroBaskets 2025 in collaboration with FIBA's Regional office in Europe.
Emphasizing this, Edita and Rrezarta said, “Contributing to FIBA’s social legacy is about more than basketball, it’s about leaving something valuable behind for the athletes and the community.”
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
FIBA