Respect

Project description

Sports activities play indeed a vital role in promoting social integration, particularly among young people. Sport opens up real prospects for participation in society, for it enables individuals, whether they have disabilities or not, to communicate, to experience togetherness and to find out what they are capable of doing. In addition, sport encourages younsters to make efforts and enhances their competitive spirit; it prevents them from withdrawing into themselves and becoming isolated.

Furthermore, including young people with disabilities can be approached from the perspectives of empowerment, innovation and opportunity while challenging the status quo of pity, stigma and fear. When sport includes young people with disabilities, it becomes transformative not just for the participants, but also for families, coaches, administrators, spectators and event or program sponsors.

“Recognizing Sport as a Powerful Tool for Inclusion” is motivated by the need to address the social exclusion of young people with disabilities, particularly in the context of sports activities. There is a lack of opportunities for disabled young people to engage in sports activities, and this not only affects their physical health but also their mental well-being and social inclusion. The project seeks to promote the use of sports as a means of inclusion and empowerment for disabled young people.