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2024-1-PL01-KA154-YOU-0002002952024Youth participation activitiesfinalizedGood practice
Countries: PL · Grant: €56,000
Inclusion of marginalised young peopleDisabilitiesBridging intercultural, intergenerational and social divide

Objectives

The project was a response to the identified needs of disadvantaged young people, in particular teenagers with disabilities, who constituted the main project group (according to the application, the youth project group included 15 young people with disabilities aged 17–22). The Social Fair Play Foundation wanted to give them a real opportunity to participate in social activities that were not prepared for them ‘in advance’ but co-created by the young people themselves. The aim of the project was therefore to increase the participation of teenagers with disabilities in local life (including integration across divisions with their peers from mainstream schools), developing their sense of agency, and showing that young people with various barriers can fully engage in the process of planning, organising and conducting activities aimed at the wider community. The central point of the concept was integration through parasport. Sitting volleyball was both a tool and a ‘pretext’ for young people with disabilities to meet their able-bodied peers, as well as local decision-makers, athletes and the school community of the Tri-City. The aim was to break down the isolation in which the participants (students of Special Educational Centre No. 2 in Gdynia) lived and to create opportunities for dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding. The project also aimed to build key competences, primarily social and civic ones. The young people involved in the project learned how to organise events, how to talk to decision-makers, and how to present their passions and achievements. Participants developed their digital skills through film editing workshops and interviews with parasports athletes. The aim was not only to impart knowledge, but above all to equip them with competences that would strengthen their self-esteem and enable them to participate more fully in society. Another important element was to draw public attention to the needs of young people with disabilities. Through debates with local decision-makers, a social campaign and media activities, the project aimed to create a space where the voices of disadvantaged people could be heard and taken seriously. The aim was to include these young people in discussions about sport, culture and integration, and to emphasise that parasport is not a ‘niche activity’ but a fully-fledged part of social and cultural life. An analysis of the activities carried out confirmed that the project's objectives were not only achieved but exceeded in many respects. The young people from the project group actively and responsibly co-led all activities, from planning the mural, through interviews and the social campaign, to organising a charity match. During the implementation, additional effects appeared that were not included in the initial plans – young people with disabilities began to act as educators and animators for their able-bodied peers, inspiring them to reflect on the topic of integration. The goals related to integration through parasport were fully achieved. The project events brought together not only the target group and staff, but also students from Tri-City schools, local decision-makers and representatives of the world of sport. This enabled broad integration and showed that sport can be a platform for building equality and breaking down barriers. Of particular significance was the charity match in which young people with disabilities played side by side with the professional Aluron CMC Paravolley team. The event became a symbol of cooperation, shared joy and real partnership. The project's objectives also included a lasting improvement in the participants' skills. The evaluation confirmed that the young people had acquired new digital, social and organisational skills, as well as gaining confidence in their interactions with peers and adults. In turn, able-bodied participants in the workshops and integration activities had the opportunity to directly experience that people with disabilities are full partners in sport and social life. The analysis clearly shows that the project achieved its objectives in terms of integration, improving the skills of young people with fewer opportunities and involving them in participatory activities. What is more, thanks to the enormous commitment of the participants and the positive public reception, it was possible to go beyond the original assumptions. The project contributed to changing the perception of young people with disabilities in the local community and, at the same time, created a lasting network of relationships that have the potential to result in further joint initiatives (The Foundation will continue its good cooperation with Special Educational Centre No. 2 in Gdynia in the 2025/2026 school year).

Project partners (1)