Overcoming personal challenges and blossoming into a key member of the community is easier said than done. Rok, a 16-year-old from Dolenjska in Slovenia, was nevertheless able to do just that, thanks in large part to the impact of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and its One Team program.
He has been a regular attendee at the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic over the last five years, where he has been able to engage in One Team activities in each of the last two years. Back in elementary school, Rok sadly became the target of ridicule and mockery due to his failures, with his classmates often laughing at him and teasing him. His family also struggled financially, which created an instability that had a negative effect on his early years.
As a result of the financial difficulties encountered at home, Rok sometimes had to go without things that many other children took for granted, and he even went to live at the Youth Care Centre Malci Belic. That led to Rok feeling withdrawn and shy, resulting in a deep-seated anxiety about failure and a lowering of his self-esteem. Solitary activities, therefore, became his preferred choice.
