Empowering Youth Through Integrated Sports, Circus Arts, and Mental Health Support
About the project
The main of the Sports Without Borders project is enhancing the positive physical and psychological benefits that an innovative combination of sports, circus arts, and mental health support can have in promoting social inclusion among displaced people due to wars and in need of humanitarian support, particularly the youth (children aged 6-12; youth aged from 13 to 22).
This integrated approach will act as a critical mediator for achieving positive settlement and enabling young refugees to engage meaningfully in their hosting societies.
The project is funded under the Erasmus+ sport programme “PPPA – Emergency sport actions for the youth”.
Website in other languages
Online course
In this course, you will explore the foundations of effective and inclusive coaching, gain an introduction to social circus and circus arts, and learn practical approaches to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of participants. We hope this course provides valuable knowledge, inspiration, and practical tools to support your development as a coach.
Inclusive coaching for refugees and vulnerable groups
Learn the fundamentals of inclusive coaching, with a focus on inclusion, safeguarding, and working effectively with vulnerable groups, including young refugees.
Circus arts as a tool for inclusion, creativity and expression
Discover how circus arts can be a powerful tool for promoting inclusion, creativity, and self-expression among refugees and other vulnerable groups.
Mental health support through coaching and circus arts
Understand the foundations of mental health in coaching, including trauma-informed coaching, self-care, and practical ways to integrate mental health support.
Background info
Youth & children
239,500 people seeking asylum are under 18 years old – around one in six of them (39,500) are unaccompanied children.
Lack of skills & sustainability
Existing sport and inclusion programmes are often short-term and trainers lack skills to work with the target group.
Creativity and innovation
The integration of circus arts can add elements of creativity, self-expression, and unique physical skills that complement traditional sports.
News and updates
- All Posts
- Sports Without Borders
Outputs of the project
Publication
Analysis of Existing Sport Programmes for Young Refugees in Europe
An overview of existing sport programmes for young refugees and the opportunity for introducing circus skills and additional mental health support
Publication
Best Practices Book
The collection and analysis of Best Practices includes research and details on existing and successful approaches to refugee social integration, leveraging on sports, circus arts or innovative mental health support measures, or a combination of them.
The objectives
- Investigate and Define Integration Needs: comprehensive report with in-depth analysis of existing good practices in the field (Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and Greece)
- Develop Innovative Integrated Programmes, including the “Train the Trainers programme: programmes to upskills sports trainers and coaches in soft (mental support) and hard skills (circus arts)
- Enhance Skills of Trainers and Coaches:
- Engage Young Refugees
- Develop a Scalable Blueprint: and get commitment of sport organisations
- Raise Awareness and Foster Community Integration through Social Circus Festival: multicultural events across the different countries
- Monitor and Evaluate Impact: with interviews and surveys
Project partners
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.