Through the "Eco-Sport Impact" project, the three partner organisations – NENZ Cort (Italy), EU MOVE (Czech Republic), and the Municipality of Maracena (Spain) – aim to promote social inclusion and the active participation of young people, using sport, contact with nature, and creative expression as key tools in youth work. The objective is to offer safe, accessible, and stimulating spaces where young people can develop personal and social skills, strengthen their sense of community, and feel like protagonists of change in their local areas. The project will enhance their personal, social, and civic competences through non-formal educational tools that combine inclusive sports, environmental education, and creative expression. We want to implement Eco-Sport Impact because, through our daily work with young people, we constantly witness how difficult it is for many of them to find real opportunities for growth—especially those living in rural areas, those with disabilities, or those facing economic and social hardships. In a fast-paced world that often excludes those perceived as “different” or “invisible,” we feel the urgent need to create spaces where young people can feel welcomed, heard, and valued. We believe that sport, when practiced inclusively, is a powerful tool to break down barriers and build meaningful relationships. At the same time, we are deeply convinced that environmental sustainability must start with small, everyday choices, and that if young people are actively involved, they can become true ambassadors of change in their communities. This project stems from a shared desire to offer concrete responses to highly relevant issues: the loneliness and marginalization of many young people, the lack of safe spaces for self-expression, and the feeling of helplessness in the face of environmental and social challenges. Through Eco-Sport Impact, we want to offer a different kind of experience—one that leaves a mark: a moment of self-discovery, connection with others, with nature, and with one’s own body and mind. From the perspective of youth work, we aim to: - Promote social inclusion through accessible and collaborative sports activities, where each young person—regardless of their abilities or background—can feel valued, part of the group, and an active protagonist. Sports such as inclusive football, referee-free Frisbee, or mixed volleyball are not just games: they are real opportunities to learn values such as respect, trust, and cooperation. - Foster environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility towards the local territory, through hands-on experiences related to nature and sustainability, such as eco-hikes, plogging, creative recycling workshops, and shared management of common spaces with an ecological mindset. Participants will learn to put sustainability into practice in their daily lives. - Strengthen active participation and European citizenship, involving young people in all phases of the project—from preparation to exchange, and in follow-up. Youth will act as co-creators of activities, ambassadors in their communities, and promoters of change. They will be supported in developing transversal skills such as intercultural communication, teamwork, leadership, and social project design. - Support personal development and autonomy, by creating an educational environment where each participant can explore their talents, confront their insecurities, overcome (physical, cultural, or psychological) barriers, and build self-confidence. This will be made possible through the presence of trained educators, peer-learning methods, and structured daily reflection sessions. Our project is designed as a comprehensive educational journey, where youth work means guidance, listening, facilitation, and support—allowing young people the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, learn, and grow. Every activity is designed to foster meaningful learning, rooted in real experiences, peer interaction, and connection to the territory and nature. We don’t want to just “run an Erasmus+ project”: we want to build an educational path that continues beyond its duration—one that leaves behind connections, competences, and awareness. A grassroots project, born from real young people and real needs, created to give dignity to diversity, strength to ideas, and value to cooperation. That’s why we are putting so much heart into this, and why this project truly matters to us.