From 3rd to 10th December five girls from Italy went to Póvoa de Varzim for a Youth Exchange about sport and inclusivity with other nationalities like Bulgaria, Slovacchia, Spain, Serbia and Portugal.
Achiropita, Alice, Arbjona, Giulia and Isabela learnt a lot about inclusivity through activities like blind football, dance, dodgeball, swimming and boccia.
One of the most impactful activities we made was blind football: we were divided in two different teams and we had to completely trust on other senses in order to play the game in the right way. Even if the game was struggling, we understood that cooperation and communication with the coach and the teammates was essential.
We also had the opportunity to visit Mapadi, a sport organisation in Póvoa made for disabled people; here, not only we had the possibility to visit the building and know about its different services, but also to get to know the guests personally and play boccia with them.
To our personal point of view, the most tough task for us was to create a new, inclusive sport which was supposed to be suitable for everybody. Thanks to this activity, we realized how complicated living with a handicap can be, but also how many possibilities exist to include disabled people.
Beyond the topic itself, we learned to value what makes us human: the people. We lived and shared this experience with initially complete strangers, who have later become real friends.
We immediately understood that we were surrounded by amazing people; through their energy, smiles and thoughts, we were able to connect and work together to make this Youth Exchange one of the best moment we have ever experienced.
When talking about disabilities, most of people think about them as a restriction, whereas the project made us see how the best way to approach to them is to connect on a human level with the people, without unease or prejudices.
We are extremely grateful for being part of this project because we gained specific knowledge which we wouldn’t have been able to aquire from our own hometown. We all know how difficult it is to stop out of our comfort zone, but one we do that, we understand that the overcoming of our “little” fears can light a giant spark both within us and others, this will help us to grow as people and eventually inspire others.
Immensely grateful, your 5 girls from Italy.
OUTCOME:
The main outcome of the project is the manual guide “A Light in the Sky!”, created by young people from across Europe. This resource brings together inclusive and adapted sports activities, designed to be accessible, flexible, and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
From new games and creative dynamics to clear rules and materials, the guide is a practical tool for youth workers, educators, and local communities who wish to promote sport without barriers in their contexts
You can access the manual here:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAG6YbD4tS0/yl3IrjFil5FO_ZrtPKkCmg/view
