Written by: Semič Elementary School Last updated: June 18, 2026
The Semič Elementary School of the Bela Krajina Detachment is the first school in the Republic of Slovenia to join the international Peace Field project . The project is implemented worldwide by the international organization Children’s Football Alliance . Thus, our school symbolically joined the network of peace fields around the world, connected to the historical tradition of the European heritage of peace.
The idea for the Peace Field project stems from one of the most moving and symbolically powerful events in European history – the Christmas Truce of 1914 , which occurred during the First World War.
In Flanders, Belgium, British and German soldiers faced each other in trenches, often just a few dozen meters apart, in a bloody and exhausting battle. Despite the war and hatred that marked the time, surprising moments of humanity occurred on Christmas Eve. Christmas carols rang out from the trenches, soldiers waved to each other, and soon they bravely emerged from their shelters to meet in the space between the trenches known as no man’s land .
There, they exchanged greetings, small gifts like chocolate, cigarettes, and food, and talked like people – not like enemies. In these brief but extremely meaningful moments, differences were blurred and a common humanity came to the fore.
The most recognizable and symbolic part of this truce was an improvised football match , which the soldiers played right in no man’s land. The ball was taken from British supplies, and the goals were marked with backpacks and caps. The match had no rules, referees or winners in the usual sense of the word, but it carried an extraordinary message – it showed that even in the midst of war, soldiers were above all people who wanted peace, friendship and a normal life.
Although the Christmas Truce did not happen everywhere and was short-lived, football became its enduring symbol. It became a symbol of a moment when play momentarily overrode weapons and when humanity overcame hatred.
The Peace Field project brings this historical message to modern times. By establishing and symbolically naming peace fields around the world, it aims to convey to children and young people that conflicts can be resolved through dialogue, cooperation and respect – and that sport, especially football, has a special unifying power in this regard.
We celebrated our official inclusion in the project with an international event on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10 a.m. on the school playground of the Belokranjskog odred Semič Elementary School . The event included football matches between kindergarten and school teams from the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia. The event had a distinctly educational and connecting nature. It combined historical memory and international cooperation.
Donation from the Rotary Club Semič – Bela krajina for the Peace Pitch project
Sport as a universal language of friendship, respect and peace
Peace Pitch at the Semič Elementary School – presentation for students
Children’s Football Alliance – Protecting childhood through play
THE FIRST PEACE PITCH IN SLOVENIA – Children’s Football Alliance