Promoting Active Inclusion of Disadvantaged Persons Excluded from the regular participation into grassroots sports

The project foresaw four types of activities:Organization of 6 transnational project partner meetings which had the purpose of regular project coordination and communication. It was planned to be held two meetings in each of the countries. However, due to the specific situation with the Covid-19 virus and the specific measures that were taken in each of the implementing countries, only 3 meetings were held live, the other 3 were done online. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the activities and development of the project.Organization of 12 workshops which included different beneficiaries such as state institutions, social centers, sports clubs and federations, NGOs, and other relevant organization that is related in the promotion of social inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantage groups, with focus on inclusion in sports activities. These workshops were organized in each of the partners’ countries. Four in each country.Organization of 12 sports events that aimed to include the target groups included within the project, to raise public awareness and promote volunteerism. Sports events were organized in each of the partners’ countries, 12 in total. At these sports events, more than 200 people from disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will be included. Both, indoor and outdoor sports activities were implemented.Recommendations and good practices were disseminated. Brochures and leaflets with main points and proposals for inclusion of the target groups into sports activities were delivered to the key stakeholders as an impulse for the creation of a national strategy for the inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in long term. This material is also publicly visible on the project’s social media account and webpage. These recommendations were derived from the organization of the workshops and sports events. The material is available in Macedonian, Albanian, English, Bulgarian and Italian.The results from the implementation of the project that were achieved are the following:Result 1: Increased cooperation between the key stakeholders by the exchange of experience and good practices. Setting up a basis for networking and building partnerships that will aim at leading the target groups to active participation in grassroots sports.Result 2: Stakeholder and public awareness raised through the promotion of inclusion of the target group in sports activities. The participation in grassroots sports of disadvantaged people was enhanced by promoting the idea that sport is for everyone.Result 3: Key stakeholders will benefit as the project will provide recommendations and help improve know-how and service frameworks that are needed for the replication of best practices.In the preparatory phase of the project, the partners assess the best practices for sports activities of the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Different relevant stakeholders were contacted and informed about the purpose of the project and their contribution to the development of the activities and strengthening of the inclusion of the target groups of the project. All of these were discussed between the partners at the transnational meetings. In coordination between the partners later were developed the concrete themes of the workshops and sports events. They have open space and flexibility to choose the best activities depending on the situation in the country.