The following objectives were incorporated during the design and implementation of the project: -The creation of opportunities for refugees and individuals with a migrant background which will aid in promoting inclusion and active participation among young people in this typically disadvantaged target group. -The development of sport as a methodological tool to connect with young people, encourage personal development and eventually empowering them to become active global citizens in their new community. -The creation of a groundbreaking training course for professionals which will focus on the unique needs of this target group along with the challenges, ultimately resulting in long lasting personal development of these youth care workers which will be further implemented by each partner organization. - The creation and activation of a network which encourages participating organizations and local key stakeholders, to share knowledge in promoting participation and inclusion of (vulnerable) young people - The enhancement of cross-border cooperation in the field of education, social inclusion and personal & professional development of youth workers at local and European level.
This project was developed for a variety of reasons but most notably to attempt to tackle the issue of social exclusion amongst young people and more specifically amongst the main target group of the project, young people with a refugee or migrant background. Social exclusion can result in difficulty connecting with one’s community, accessing opportunities for work, volunteering, education, etc. and the sustainable attainment of basic needs. Furthermore, the worldwide turmoil of war during the project design phase played a role in its design, specifically the Taliban’s invasion of Afghanistan and the war in Ukraine. Throughout the course of the project, various needs and priorities were addressed. These included the following: the lack of target group specific training for professionals working in the field, an insufficient awareness regarding social inclusion within local communities, inadequate development and promotion of good practices within methodologies which use sport in an educational aspect and the lack of cross border cooperations in the field of sport as an educational tool for the social inclusion of young refugees.