In December 2003, a group of young people decided to organize a sports event in Tirana. It was a simple activity that brought together 12 young people with disabilities and other young people. Sport was a means to have fun but also to break down the isolation barriers that characterized the group of young people with disabilities. The young people met several more times after the event and in May 2004 they decided to create Beyond Barriers. Beyond Barriers Association was then legally registered in the Tirana district court on 30 June 2004, as the first organization of young people with disabilities and other young people who would work for the empowerment of youth in the national level.

Now, after several years of work, BBA has accumulated a great experience in working with young people at the local, national, regional and European level. Through the years the target group of the association has expanded in order to give space to all young people from Albania to be part of its programs and projects. Nevertheless the main focus of the association’s work remains on young people with fewer opportunities, with the scope to offer them a chance for empowerment and to be active citizens of the community where they live.