Kristoffer Pilmalm – FAITH project
Can you introduce yourself and your role within the FAITH project?
My name is Kristoffer and I work in the FAITH project through NYSA Sweden. I’m part of the team as a project coordinator and run the local activities here in Sweden. I will also support with the workshops, final symposium and the coach education in the countries of the FAITH partners.
What is the core mission behind FAITH, and what values drive the initiative?
The goal with FAITH is to support youth and coaches to grow together through sport. We want to focus on important values like respect, inclusion, honesty and teamwork. We believe sport is not only about winning—but about learning and building strong people and communities.
What inspired the creation of FAITH, and how did the project come to life?
The idea came because we see that many young people today think differently about life, society, and sport. Some sport clubs are not ready for these changes. FAITH was started by a group of organizations from different countries who wanted to understand youth better and find new ways to coach for the future, together with Erasmus+.
What kind of real-world impact do you aim to achieve through FAITH?
We want to create long-term change in how coaches work with youth. During the project, we will organize workshops where young people can reflect, speak about their dreams, and create a “declaration” about what kind of sport they want in the future. These moments will give young people more voice and show sport leaders what matters for the next generation.
How does FAITH collaborate with external partners?
FAITH is a big team effort. We will work together with local sport clubs, youth workers, universities and others. These partners will help with workshops, communication, and testing new coaching tools. We want to make sure the project results are useful not only for us, but for many others in Europe.
What are your long-term goals for FAITH?
We hope FAITH can live on after the project is finished. We want the workshops and tools we create to be used in more clubs and countries. We also hope the youth declaration will reach decision-makers in sport and help shape future education and values in coaching.
How does FAITH address and promote mental health among the youth it supports?
The activities in FAITH will create safe spaces where young people feel seen and listened to. When youth can talk, reflect, and feel part of something bigger, it helps with mental wellbeing. Even if we are not a health project, we believe strong values in sport can support mental health in a natural way.
How can someone get involved with the FAITH project?
We welcome involvement at all levels—whether you’re a coach, athlete, club leader, policymaker, or simply passionate about youth development in sport. The easiest first step is to visit our project website, faithsport.eu, where you can find stories, upcoming events, and information on how to participate in workshops or our FAITH Symposium. We’re also looking to build new partnerships across Europe, so don’t hesitate to reach out.