Starting Line celebrates education, culture, youth, inclusion, diversity and sport.

The project was designed by Belenenses, a community sport club with a social outlook delivering grassroot sport programmes in a wide range of sports to over 2.000 young people in Lisbon. The project will be developed in partnership with SEGAS Cyclades, the regional membership and development body for grassroots athletics in the region of Cyclades, Greece leading on support to 11 affiliated clubs, and over 1000 athletes.

This year, thanks to the funding of the Erasmus+ programme, the two organisations expect to welcome 150 children and young people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to take part in their athletics youth teams.

Both organizations will implement Starting Line’s programme at local level – in Lisbon, Portugal and in Cyclades, Greece. As a final activity, the two partners will co-organize a final transnational event, bringing together young people taking part in Starting Line in both countries.

The European Network for Sport Education (ENSE), an international non-profit organisation focusing on sport education and policy, will be involved in the project as an academic partner. They will offer expert support in the design and conception of the programme, as well as support in the identification of suitable facilitators for its overall delivery. Furthermore, ENSE will train coaches and staff from Belenenses and SEGAS Cyclades on inclusive intercultural education. 

In Lisbon the project will also be developed in partnership with Lisbon Project, a social project dedicated to supporting people in situations of social vulnerability among migrant and refugee communities in the city. Lisbon Project will create a bridge between Belenenses and young people from underrepresented backgrounds interested in participating in Starting Line.

Using the common language of sport, Starting Line aims to equip young people with skills, crafts and tools to become active and connected citizens, with a louder voice in shaping the places where they live.

  • Throughout the year, partner organizations will deliver daily training sessions in athletics introducing all athletics event group areas (runs, jumps and throws). Training sessions will also provide a space for contact and relation for young people from different backgrounds, fostering friendships and promoting social integration and cultural diversity.

  • The daily training sessions will be complemented by bimonthly (every two months) ateliers dedicated to introducing reflective thinking about inclusion, interculturalism, diversity, citizenship, and ecology. The ateliers will feature practical activities designed to encourage critical and creative thinking on topics related to diversity, ecology, and civic education, offering activities that young people can easily relate to and engage with.

Project Partners

  • Clube de Futebol 'Os Belenenses' is a popular sports club based in Lisbon, Portugal. Established in 1919 in Belém, Belenenses swiftly gained popularity across the country, earning recognition for its sporting merit and the pivotal role it played in the development of sports in Portugal during the 20th century. Today, boasting over 100 years of history, the club is involved in 9 sporting disciplines, offering sports activities to over 2000 young people in Lisbon. Consequently, it stands out as a benchmark institution for the development of grassroots sports in both the city and the country.

    osbelenenses.com

  • SEGAS Cyclades is a member association of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Greece. SEGAS Cyclades was established in 2000 and is responsible for developing athletics and running in the South Aegean region. Through their work, SEGAS Cyclades, leads on support for 11 affiliated clubs, over 1000 athletes, 30 coaches, and over 100 volunteers and officials.

    cycladesathletics.gr/en/

  • The European Network of Sport Education (ENSE) is an international non-profit organisation and has been active in the field of sports education and policy in Europe since 1989. ENSE works to create and disseminate learning opportunities for sports professionals, connect organisations working in the field of sports education, and advocate for effective policies at European level. In recent years, ENSE has also been involved in the development of innovative, socially oriented educational approaches that target key topics and groups such as intercultural education, social inclusion, and social innovation.

    sporteducation.eu

  • Lisbon Project is an association dedicated to supporting people in situations of social vulnerability among migrant and refugee communities in Lisbon. Lisbon Project organizes a host of activities that aim to empower migrants and refugees with the tools necessary to build a life in Portugal. The association delivers 6 different programs dealing with education, employment, health & wellbeing, legal aid, social support, and community building. Since its establishment in 2017, Lisbon Project has registered and assisted over 800 migrants and refugees.

    lisbonproject.org/pt

Project Outputs