The FIRE project aimed to promote the inclusion of women and girls in sports by directly addressing the attitudes and practices of professionals. Its ambition was to integrate an intercultural perspective into the analysis of barriers to participation, in order to better reflect the diversity of situations and adapt responses in the field. The project also sought to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders in the sports, social and youth sectors by equipping them with tools to address issues of equality, stereotypes and discrimination, while developing their analytical and intercultural communication skills. Finally, a key objective was the creation of a practical tool: a guide of good practices combined with a structured training manual, including detailed activity sheets. Designed for immediate use, this tool enables organisations to take ownership of the content and independently implement activities with their target groups.
The FIRE project emerged from a shared observation during local actions on equality: despite visible progress, girls and women remain less involved in everyday sports activities. The barriers identified are not only related to gender, but also to social, cultural and economic factors that are still insufficiently considered by sports stakeholders. In response to this need, we aimed to develop a more comprehensive approach, integrating an intercultural perspective into the analysis of inequalities and professional practices. The objective was to better understand the obstacles faced and to provide concrete tools to promote more inclusive sports participation. The project relied on close collaboration with CDOS 13 and 83, enabling the mobilisation of a wide network of professionals and volunteers (coaches, club managers, educators, facilitators and social workers) directly concerned by these issues.