History of ViLA
The European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016, held from July 12 to 25, 2016, achieved significant success in the field of organizing and executing sporting events in Croatia. The Games began with an opening ceremony in Zagreb, which was watched by around 9,000 spectators and broadcast live on Croatian national television (HRT). However, for the volunteers themselves, the program started much earlier.
The volunteer program, originally named “Students for Students”, meant much more to many participants than just a name or a number on paper. It brought together 1,441 interested volunteers, who began their involvement in April 2015 in organizing the largest multi-sport event in Europe in 2016. Their dedication and invaluable contribution are confirmed by an impressive 110,296 volunteer hours completed (from April 2016 to November 2017).
From the very beginning, volunteers were included in various organizational processes in order to improve their skills, develop their own sports values, and gain new professional knowledge needed for working in an organizational team. Beyond the impressive numbers, filled-out surveys, media articles, and countless photos and videos that still bring a lump to the throat of every participant, the true value and long-term impact of this volunteer program are confirmed by its main actors. The personal stories of volunteers testify to the significance of the program in the lives of both the volunteers and their team leaders.
This program proved that it is possible to involve a large number of volunteers in continuous 20-day activities in two different cities; that it is possible to engage university students, high schoolers, older elementary students, working adults, retirees, parents, and children — all in the same project through sport. That it is possible to unite all generations with the same goal: personal and social development.
And don’t forget the motto of the Games – “The heart believes, the mind achieves!”
According to their own experience, the ESI 2016 volunteers adapted it to:
“The heart believes, the volunteer achieves!” – and we wholeheartedly and proudly agree with that!
The Association of the European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016 was awarded the National Award for the implementation of this volunteer program. As a legacy for new generations, we have left behind an academy where anyone can develop their skills.
The first Volunteer Academy, which brought together 40 participants, was held in spring 2023, and after five weeks of online education and practical assignments, participants had the opportunity to volunteer at the largest sporting event of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation – UniSport Finals 2023.
