“Sport, Leisure and Emotional Intelligence – A Model for Differences in the Society”

The total duration of the project was 18 months as it was implemented in partnership between „Together For A Safer Future“ Foundation (Lead partner, Bulgaria); Mayo County Council (Ireland); „VSI Socialiniai paramos projektai” (Lithuania) and AHEAD (Romania). The main objective of the project was successfully achieved, namely through sharing, upgrading, analyzing ideas and good practices in working with young people and vulnerable groups, cooperation between a wide range of partners active in the field of youth activities. A new integrated approach and model for work with youth has been developed jointly by applying a new set of methods in relation to the use of the principles of emotional intelligence and the „win-lose” approach to creating practical and interactive sports animation activities as an instrument to prevent and control aggression, tolerance and non-discrimination. This approach allows better reach and work with young disadvantaged people or such with fewer opportunities (especially those with cultural differences belonging to a national / ethnic minority) in order to promote their inclusion and equal opportunities. Through the involvement of partners with different profile and experience in various sectors, the project not only internationalized youth work but also allowed greater flexibility of work in variety of action fields related to young people by expanding opportunities for wider access to target groups and stakeholders. With the implementation of the project, quality and accessibility in non-formal learning and youth work was achieved by supporting the development and dissemination of a new integrated model for communicating with marginalized young people and preventing youth racism and intolerance, by enhanced cooperation between organizations with different profile and role in the area of youth work. Partner organizations were given the opportunity to exchange experience and innovative solutions in youth work related to increasing knowledge and acceptance of diversity in society, combating racism, discrimination and segregation of young people with fewer opportunities. Through the implemented project activities, the capacity of the youth workers in the field of providing attractive forms of sports activities and engaging the leisure time of disadvantaged young people, fostering their development, emotional intelligence and the promotion of social inclusion and equal opportunities was enhanced. Two Intellectual products have been developed within the range of the project: - Common Analysis with guidelines for further joint actions - Developed in the first stage of project implementation. Research activities have been carried out by each partner in the region where he works. The issues that have been studied and analyzed are: the degree of engagement and activity (participation in extra-curricular activities) of pupils and young people, their attitudes towards peers of divergence origins and cultures (for example those coming from minorities, refugees, etc.), the main factors that influence their view of cultural distinctions and how they shape their behavior in terms of „the different ones”, the main challenges that disadvantaged young people face in their daily lives in reference to the socialization, the real needs and expectations of young people with fewer opportunities, as well as the assessment of the attitudes and behavior of their peers. The wider application and promotion of non-formal education was achieved by the guidelines for joint actions included in the analysis as per the specific characteristics of the covered regions, whereby the recommendations developed could be used by other organizations working with disadvantaged young people. - Manual for using emotional intelligence training in entertainment & sport animation as a new tool in youth work for conflict resolution and prevention of aggressive behaviors towards those with disadvantaged backgrounds - The Manual is based on the results of the research activities and the joint work of experts and youth workers. It would contribute to future initiatives and actions giving an overall vision of what and how these could be used to achieve strategic goals and long-term effects. Other tangible results: - Plan for promotion and communication - Its main objective is to ensure proper planning and organization of effective communication with selected audiences in order to attract attention and interest to participate and actively involve further implementing initiatives based on the project outcomes, in particular with regard to the Manual