Next stop: VADA!

As summer begins to give way to autumn, Vada, a picturesque town in Tuscany, is gearing up to host a significant event in the youth sports landscape. From September 27th to 29th, 2023, the town will host the first transnational meeting of the "Through Sport is Possible" (TSP) project, an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges faced by young people in social and economic distress across Europe.

The event will feature representatives from sports associations from various European nations, including Italy with ASD TKD Rosignano, Bulgaria with Sportsroom, and Portugal with Clube Desportivo da Escola Secundária Miguel Torga. This meeting marks the first in a series aimed at developing effective strategies for supporting at-risk youth through sports.

The meeting will be structured in several phases, each aimed at investigating specific aspects of the issue:

1. Analysis of the Situation of Young People in Europe: An initial focus will be on examining the current conditions of young people in vulnerable situations, with particular attention to the latest data and trends in youth poverty.

2. Relevance of Sports in Growth Path: The conference will examine how sports activities can play a vital role in the overall development of young people, going beyond the physical aspect to touch on mental and social spheres.

3. Promotion of Accessibility and Inclusion in Sports: This segment of the event will address the importance of ensuring that sports are accessible to all young people, regardless of their socio-economic background.

4. Sports and Human Rights: An insight into the link between sports and human rights, with a focus on supporting vulnerable groups.

5. Assessment and Knowledge Sharing: At the end of the meeting, a quiz will allow participants to reflect on the themes addressed and evaluate the understanding gained.

The goal of this meeting in Vada is twofold: on one hand, to foster constructive debate among participants on how to improve accessibility and effectiveness of sports as a tool for social integration, and on the other, to create a network of collaboration among participating organizations to implement effective practices at both local and international levels.

This event represents a crucial opportunity to lay the groundwork for significant change in how sports are used to support young people in difficulty across Europe. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this meeting and its impact on the future of European youth sports.

In a follow-up article, we will recount the details of the meeting and showcase photos from the event, providing an inside look at the discussions, activities, and key moments that defined this groundbreaking gathering.

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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.