Inclusion is like air. You only become aware of it when you miss it.
Context
For us, the transition from classical sports activities or commercial activities towards social sports and adding more value through our work was natural.
The projects we implemented brought us visibility. We started receiving questions from other coaches and sports instructors about what we do, how we do it, and how we get funded.
We noticed interest but not enough action. We decided to find out what is stopping others from becoming more inclusive.
Before starting this project, we sent a questionnaire to 25 sports organizations from Romania and Italy. We learned that the main obstacles to inclusion are lack of funds, lack of trained personnel, lack of methodologies, lack of necessary infrastructure, and lack of support from the authorities. From these answers, we started writing the guide. We set out to encourage other martial arts and sports organizations to become more inclusive in their activity and to provide a resource that addresses the main needs identified.
We wanted the guide to be as comprehensive and relevant as possible, so we decided that our experience wasn't sufficient. The documentation process included discussions with over 20 key organizations involved in sports for social impact, specialized literature research, and international trainings in which we addressed the different topics included in the guide.
All of this resulted in a book consisting of 3 parts.
The first part refers to understanding the concept of inclusion through sports, the second part is a practical approach, and the third part is a photography exhibition on the topic.
This guide is available for free. We invite you to download it and share it with others.
Beyond Barriers Exhibition
The photographic exhibition "Beyond Barriers" delves into the theme of inclusion and exclusion in sports, tackling the multifaceted aspects of social disparities, disabilities, and discrimination. Its objective is to promote and encourage sports participation for everyone.
The two artists who embraced the theme chose different approaches.
Dan Vladimir Gologan documents four powerful stories of inclusion. He complements each image with a concise, descriptive paragraph, bringing the viewer deeper into the lives of his subjects. The photographs capture real people engaged in their everyday activities.
Luca Rivi adopted a comparative approach, juxtaposing two images in each composition. One image portrays exclusion (black and white), while the other showcases inclusion (color). The protagonists featured in the photos are volunteers of the Italian Red Cross, CastellaranoCommittee (RE), or members of the association Il Cassetto dei Sogni.
Inclusion Activities
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.