On June 16, 2023, an international conference “Innovations and good European practices” was held at the Grand Hotel Sofia, organized by Association Sport Club “Comac Sport” within the framework of the “Come and Play 4.0” project, EAC-2020-0745, co-funded by the European union. “Come and Play 4.0” aims to develop and widely promote innovative forms of practicing sport and physical activity, suitable for people of different ages, through a new intergenerational sport program, using digital tools and creating mobile playgrounds.

Within the framework of the international event, good practices from various countries in Europe were presented, with special attention paid to the models from Hungary, which were presented by Rodrigo Dudas, sports coordinator of the Budapest Association for International Sports.

Within the “Sustainable sport practices in the EU” panel, the “Carbon Neutral Sports Clubs Network – C ZERO SPORTS CLUB” initiative was presented, which aims to motivate sports organizations to reduce the carbon footprints of their activities.

Bulgarian sports development association took part in the event and during the “Innovative training methods and techniques” session presented two of its current initiatives, supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union: #SMILE – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement which promotes the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sports activities at local, national and international levels and #SWIM – Swim Without Fear!, which aims to overcome hydrophobia in an innovative and a different way, namely by developing a good practice handbook that will be useful to both parents and swimming organizations.

In the last part of the international conference, good practices on “Promoting equality and inclusion in European sports” were presented, in which Roberto Volpe, MD, ASM, PhD, National research council of Italy, provided the audience with details of the implementation and results of WOMEN’S HURDLES: barriers to inclusion of women in sports activities and opportunities to increase their physical activity.

People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subjected to wide discrimination and the impossibility of proper inclusion in society. Sports is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process, and in a gentle way present an opportunity for this population to feel accepted and part of a group. Sports, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – or simply #SMILE – is a project aiming to analyse the link between sports and inclusion in an innovative way, by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges. #SMILE provides the feeling that EU rights are their rights as well. For example, the right as European citizens of moving and residing freely is reflected in the commitment of the EU “to ensure that persons with disabilities have a real right to freedom of movement as others” has been applied in practice through the international #SMILE sports event that aim to ensure the feeling of moving and residing freelyin participants with disabilities.

The main objectives of the #SMILE initiative are:

* Ensuring quality sports mobility for people with intellectual disabilities;

* Ensuring new instruments and tools for sports experts (trainers, coaches, social workers, etc.) to use sports as a tool for inclusion, socialization and empowerment for people with disabilities;

* Creation of the #SMILE Practical Guide which delineates methods and practices that can be applied in sporting environments when working with people with disabilities /Open Educational Recourse/.

The direct target group of the #SMILE project are people with intellectual disabilities residing in Bulgaria and Croatia through the project consortium of the Bulgarian Sports Development Association and Rijeka Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities. The final beneficiaries of the initiative are both partner organizations that are empowered to further transmit expertise on inclusion, and the people facing multiple challenges in their lives that will experience an amazing journey through sports in the #SMILE framework that allows them to feel like an integral part of the larger European family. 

Through various project activities, #SMILE aims to empower people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges to:

• Discover the power of sports as an inclusion mechanism through personal experience;
• Co-create, together with #SMILE partners, a good practices toolkit of Inclusion through sports for people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges;
• Participate in an international #SMILE sporting event;
• Implement local training sessions for people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges to ensure a snowball effect;
• Ensure good practices are communicated between project partners.

The #SMILE initiative is aligned with the horizontal objectives pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sports – as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. #SMILE also prioritizes methods for encouraging participation in sports and physical activities, as all the actions that #SMILE implemented are focused on sustainable involvement of people with intellectual disabilities in sports activities on local, national, and international levels.

Good Practices #SMILE Toolkit

During the implementation of the national and international #SMILE activities, research teams used practical testing to document and highlight concrete sports activities that are suitable for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and that can also be replicated in different environments. Any needed adaptation from the actual sport applied during the national and international activities has been reported as well, together with tips and tricks for sports experts on what to keep in mind. A #SMILE edition is available for practical application in any sports organization in Europe and the world. The Good Practices #SMILE Toolkit reflects multiple sports organizations’ need of concrete, practically tested activities that can be implemented with people with intellectual disabilities.

This handbook is available in an online version (.pdf), available at the project webpage in the English language, and it is also distributed to interested partners on local and international levels. This issue is one of the first editions in the sports sector, based on practical information on inclusion through sports, focused on working with people with intellectual disabilities. Its overall aim is to ensure #BeActive and #HealthyLifestyle4All values are applied, to empower further development of inclusive sports in the European Union.

Download Good Practices #SMILE Toolkit here

On June 3, 2023, for another year, Familathlon – the largest outdoor celebration dedicated to sports and entertainment, gathered hundreds of citizens and more than 1500 families and guests of the city of Sofia on the large meadow in South Park. Bulgarian sports development association actively participated in the event, presenting the activities of the current initiatives, that are co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union:

#SMILE – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – Bulgarian sports development association’s initiative, supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, which promotes the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sporting activities at local, national and international levels; #SWIM – Swim Without Fear, aiming to overcome hydrophobia in an innovative and different way, namely by developing a good practice guide that will be useful for both parents and swimming organizations; “Strong Mind for Success”, which builds the capacity of modern sports organizations in the area of awareness and care for the mental health of young athletes.

Together with the partners from Class4YourBack, an open lesson in corrective gymnastics was organized, and children and young people had the opportunity to take part in a free golf training provided by Bulgarian sports development association.

On May 20, 2023, the “New Stars” athletics tournament was held at the “Vasil Levski” National Sports Academy. The tournament was organized at an extremely high level by the KLASA sports club and the director of the tournament – Assoc. prof. Plamen Nyagin. The 45th edition of the international tournament included in its program a 100 and 200-meter inclusive start, as well as shot put, in which 36 athletes with intellectual disabilities took part.

The inclusion of integrated starts in sporting events with proven traditions is extremely important support for people with disabilities and their full integration and the example of the organizers of the New Stars tournament has become a sustainable successful practice in the last few years. The participants were awarded by Prof. Apostol Slavchev – Deputy Rector of the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy and Marin Gudev – Head of the Department of Athletics at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy.

Competitors were divided into several series, competing under the slogan #SMILE – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – an initiative of Bulgarian sports development association, supported by the Erasmus+ programме of the European Union, which promotes the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sporting activities at local, national and international level. Athletes from SC Wonders, SC APAS Sandanski, DC St. Marina, SC Adapted sports, SC Adapted basketball NSA, SC SEN, sport and sambo for development and Inspiration Garden took part in the international sports competition.

In the period 13-17 April 2023, an international sports event was held in Rijeka, Croatia, in which a total of 60 athletes with intellectual disabilities from both countries took part. During the past year, the athletes conducted training activities, in order to be maximally prepared for the international event. The program included athletics, swimming, basketball and different sports games. The Bulgarian delegation included athletes from RCSPIE – Smolyan, State facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start, SC Adapted Sports, Adapted Basketball NSA, Center for Secured Employment “Vduhnovenie”, Protected housing for persons with intellectual disabilities, Sofia. The sports event was held with the support of students from the Adapted Physical Activity and Sports specialty (NSA “Vasil Levski”), which is becoming more and more relevant and provides prospects for the development of young people.

During the sports event, the participants also had the opportunity to meet Ognyan Zlatev, head of the European Commission’s representation in Croatia, who shared with the athletes: “The equality of all citizens of the European Union is a top priority and being part of the big EU family, we have the same rights and enjoy the same freedom.”

The international sports event is realized within the framework of the SMILE initiative – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and is coordinated by Bulgarian sports development association. The initiative aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities.

THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT AIMS:

• Good practices toolkit edition #SMILE;
• Empowered sport experts and organizations that will continue utilizing the tools that #SMILE will develop in the project framework and onwards;
• Delivered international sport event #SMILE that will gather persons with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia after set of national trainings sessions in each country.

THROUGH THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, WE AIM TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO:

• Discover the power of sport as an inclusion mechanism through personal experience;
• Co-create together with the partners experts a good practices tool-kit of Inclusion through sport for persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges;
• Take part in an international sport event #SMILE;
• Implement local training sessions with the persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges in order to ensure snowfall effect;
• Ensure good practices transfer between project partners.

#SMILE project is totally in line with the horizontal objectives, pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. The proposal is in line as well with the priority of encouraging participation in sport and physical activity as all the actions that SMILE will implement are focused on sustainable involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in sport activities on local, national and international level.

The SMILE project team held a preparatory meeting to finalize organizational details for their upcoming multisport event. The event will be held in Rijeka, Croatia from April 13th to 17th, 2023, and will bring together 60 athletes with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia.

The SMILE project, which stands for Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement, is an innovative initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The project aims to explore the link between sport and inclusion in a unique way, by providing opportunities for international participation in sport activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges.

During the preparatory meeting, the SMILE project team discussed various organizational details, including event logistics, athlete accommodations, and competition rules. They also discussed ways to ensure that the event is inclusive and accessible to all participants.

The SMILE project team is committed to making this multisport event a success, as it provides a unique opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to showcase their skills and abilities on an international stage. By promoting sport and inclusion, the SMILE project is helping to break down barriers and create a more inclusive society for everyone.

Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement or simply SMILE project, is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, aiming to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges.

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Project #SMILE (Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement) is an Erasmus+ Small collaborative partnership project held in Bulgaria and Croatia. The project aims to analyze the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring specific trainings and international participation in sports activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event, within the framework of the initiative, will be held in Croatia in April 2023. Within the project timeline, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities will take place in various sports activities, followed by many smiles and positive emotions.

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On January 30, 2023, in the building of the European Commission in Brussels, the annual edition of the Sport Info Day was held, during which detailed information was provided about the opportunities offered by the sports sector of the Erasmus+ programme to promote sports and physical activity at local, regional and national level. The event brought together over 500 sports experts and was opened by Mariya Gabriel – European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

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In the period October 2022 – February 2023, training activities were held within the framework of the SMILE initiative. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023. Within the mentioned period, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities took part in various sports activities, which they appreciated with many smiles and positive emotions.

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Welcome to the SMILE Podcast: Empowering Lives Through Sports and Inclusion

Welcome to the SMILE podcast, where Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement come together to create a transformative experience. We are thrilled to take you on an inspiring journey into the heart of the #SMILE initiative.

At its core, SMILE stands for Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement – a groundbreaking initiative funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. Join us as we delve deep into the mission of SMILE, exploring the powerful connection between sports and inclusion in a truly innovative way.

Ever wondered why international participation in sports holds such immense significance, especially for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health challenges? The answer lies in the profound impact of sports. Beyond the physical aspects, sports encompass ambition, emotion, and inspiration. When individuals with intellectual disabilities are given the chance to participate in sports on an international stage, lives are transformed. It’s about shattering barriers, dispelling stereotypes, and fostering a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the boundaries of the playing field.

Throughout this podcast, we will guide you through the various facets of #SMILE – from national sport trainings to international events, the creation of practical guides, impactful awareness campaigns, and the enduring legacy of SMILE through our augmented reality application. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear directly from the athletes whose lives have been touched and transformed by this incredible initiative.

Join us as we celebrate the power of sports, motivation, and inclusion, making a lasting difference one smile at a time. Stay tuned and be inspired by the incredible stories of resilience, achievement, and empowerment brought to you by SMILE.

Find out more in SMILE Podcast: Empowering Lives Through Sports and Inclusion:

On October 7, 2023, the “Happy Hand in Hand” festival took place in Plovdiv, gathering people with disabilities, their families, and those empathetic to their challenges at the Rowing Base. Part of the #SMILE team had the opportunity to showcase their athletic skills and abilities. The event, organized by the “Parallel World” association for the seventh consecutive year, featured participants engaging in various sports activities such as pickleball, volleyball, field hockey, badminton, capoeira, boxing, basketball, Zumba, and wall climbing.

Event organizer Tina Dimitrova expressed her support for individuals with special needs and their desire to be accepted by society. In the bio garden next to the Youth Center, guests could create custom badges or choose pictures of Bulgarian traditions.

Former basketball player Tina Dimitrova welcomed and supported the cause of the “Parallel World” association, which cares for children with special needs in their integration into society. She urged people to embrace these children and not feel pity for them, as that is the last thing they need.

On October 5, 2023, in Lublin, the European Youth Capital for 2023, the annual SALTO Awards ceremony was held. Representing the Bulgarian Sports Development Association (#SMILE coordinator), Yoanna Dochevska, the chairperson of the organization, attended and accepted the award. The SALTO Awards aim to recognize outstanding work and inspire young people, European citizens, decision-makers, Erasmus+ program candidates, and European Solidarity Corps candidates to have a greater impact. The categories for the 2023 SALTO Awards were:

Digital Transformation

Environment and Climate Change Action (new!)

Inclusion and Diversity

Participation in Democratic Life

Solidarity and Volunteering

Special Category: Competence Development

The #SMILE initiative, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, aims to explore the connection between sports and inclusion in an innovative way by providing international participation opportunities in sports activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The #SMILE project team implemented various national and international activities, supporting European identity and the development of competencies for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Bulgaria and Croatia. These efforts were recognized with a special award in the “Competence Development” category at the SALTO 2023 European Awards.

The special category “Competence Development” supports lifelong learning and encourages the development of competencies by involving various stakeholders in the field of education and youth policies. SALTO directs public attention to the impact of European youth programs in supporting lifelong learning and encourages competency development by including the perspective of different stakeholders. The awards jury sought inspiring projects where youth, youth workers, organization representatives, and other stakeholders are encouraged to reflect on their educational journey and competency development. When evaluating the projects, the selection committee expressed particular interest in practices and approaches supporting learning processes and the development of young participants and youth workers.

The special category “Competence Development” considered proposals in all categories (200 projects for 2023) and distinguished one project that stood out in terms of quality and activities. The chairman of the jury for this category, Dick Smit, shared: “The SMILE project was unanimously selected by the committee because it is one of the few projects in Europe that actively involves individuals with intellectual disabilities in mobility and provides them with an active platform for inclusion and competency development.”

Watch the ceremony video: https://youtu.be/2zKYRIv6xzo?si=1mogVAxq40R7ujsk

To achieve #SMILE goals, the following results were developed:

• #SMILE Good Practices Handbook: https://inclusivesport.org/2023/06/13/good-practices-smile-toolkit/;
• Empowered sports experts and organizations to utilize the tools developed within the #SMILE project.
• International #SMILE Sports Event: Brought individuals with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia together after conducting training sessions in each country.

Through project activities, #SMILE team aimed to enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to:

• Discover the power of sports as a tool for inclusion through personal experience.
• Create, in collaboration with project partners, a Good Practices Handbook for the Inclusion of individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.
• Participate in the international #SMILE sports event.
• Engage in local-level training sessions for individuals with intellectual disabilities to trigger a cascade effect.
• Transfer good practices among project partners.

The #SMILE project aligns entirely with the horizontal objectives of the Erasmus+ program, which co-funds this initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all areas of education, training, youth, and sports. This is the core idea of the project – participation in international activities for a with fewer opportunities. The project is also in line with the priority of promoting participation in sports and physical activity, as all activities implemented by the SMILE project are geared towards the sustainable inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in sports activities at the local, national, and international levels.

#SMILE is executed by the Bulgarian Sports Development Association and the Rijeka Sport Association for People with Disabilities – organizations providing opportunities for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in Bulgaria and Croatia. More information about the #SMILE initiative is available on the project website: www.inclusivesport.org  

Par-Olympia event was held in Athens in the period 27.09 – 04.10.2023 and part of #SMILE team had new international opportunity to show their sport skills and abilities. The Bulgarian delegation consisted of 6 athletes with intellectual disabilities and was accompanied by students from the Adapted Physical Activity and Sports specialty (NSA “Vasil Levski”), which is becoming more and more attractive as profession and provides prospects for the development of young people.

Par-Olympia is a recreational and informative Sport Event to realize a diverse and inclusive society through Sports, supported by the ErasmusPlus Programme of the European Union. During the Par-Olympia Event youths with and without disabilities from all over Europe had the opportunity to come together with peers from Europe and enjoy, learn, and connect under the Olympic & Paralympic Spirit in Athens, develop and practice physical, behavioural and mental skills by challenging themselves and each other in physical activities, movement, games and sport and learn to live in a multicultural world, accepting and respecting diversity and practice peaceful personal behaviour.

The event hosted approx. 250 participants (100 Youths with Disabilities) from 12 European countries. Parallel to that agents (coaches, volunteers & facilitators) had the opportunity through seminars and satellite activities to improve their skills toward inclusion. Inclusion in and through sport by providing every person full respect, dignity, value and belonging in any roles they may play – athlete, coach, official, administrator, or spectator.

The general objective of Par-Olympia Sport Event was to educate, engage and inspire young people with disabilities to participate in sports, learn new life skills and adopt the Olympic & Paralympic Values with the aim of facilitating their social inclusion, through sport, in a post-Covid era. To highlight the above objectives, the sport venues of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic & Paralympic Games have been selected for the organization of the Par-Olympia sport event, aiming at a direct link with the Olympic spirit.

The #BeActive European Week of Sport took place between September 23 and 30, 2023, with all residents and guests of Sofia having the opportunity to become part of the largest sports celebration in Europe. The European Week of Sport is an initiative of the European Commission, held in September throughout Europe since 2015. Through the week, conducted in the form of a campaign to promote physical activity, the numerous benefits of sports and physical activity are popularized, and everyone, regardless of age, origin, or physical condition, can participate in it.

The Bulgarian Sports Development Association traditionally actively participated in the campaign with information stands during the #BeActive Sports Village and #BeActiveNight in front of the National Palace of Culture on September 23rd and a sports event in South Park, “From Love for Sports – Let’s Be Active in the Park,” held on September 30, 2023.

During the events within the European Week of Sport, BSDA presented its current initiatives co-funded by the Erasmus+ program:

• #SMILE – an initiative that promotes the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sports activities at the local, national, and international levels.

• #SWIM – Swim Without Fear, aimed at overcoming hydrophobia in an innovative way by developing a best practices manual useful for both parents and swimming organizations.

• “Strong Mind for Success,” which builds the capacity of modern sports organizations in the field of mental health care and awareness for young athletes.

• #EmpowerSport – a program for the development of sports experts, providing opportunities for exchanging experiences in different countries to acquire new theoretical and practical skills.

The National Coordinator for the European Week of Sport in Bulgaria is the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the campaign is co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.

In the period 12-15 of September 2023, in Bulgaria was held the final project meeting of SMILE initiative – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and is coordinated by Bulgarian sports development association. The initiative aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities.

The meeting, which was attended by project manager, coach and two athletes with ID representing the project partner – Rijeka sports association for persons with disabilities included team meeting to ensure smooth closure of the great initiative, which provided life-changing experience of the participating athletes and was followed by practical visit of adapted swimming session. On the next day, the partners visited the participants in the international sport event, held earlier this year in Croatia, residing in State facility for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start and social bookshop “Hope” in Plovdiv, meeting the people with disabilities, working in the social enterprise and supporting their activities.

SMILE HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT AIMS:

• Good practices toolkit edition #SMILE: https://inclusivesport.org/2023/06/13/good-practices-smile-toolkit/
• Empowered sport experts and organizations that will continue utilizing the tools that #SMILE developed in the project framework and onwards;
• Delivered international sport event #SMILE that gathered persons with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia after set of national trainings sessions in each country.

THROUGH THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, WE AIM TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO:

• Discover the power of sport as an inclusion mechanism through personal experience;
• Co-create together with the partners experts a good practices tool-kit of Inclusion through sport for persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges;
• Take part in an international sport event #SMILE;
• Implement local training sessions with the persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges in order to ensure snowfall effect;
• Ensure good practices transfer between project partners.

#SMILE project is totally in line with the horizontal objectives, pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. The project is in line as well with the priority of encouraging participation in sport and physical activity as all the actions that SMILE implemented were focused on sustainable involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in sport activities on local, national and international level.

SALTO Awards aims at recognizing work well done and inspire young people, European citizens, decision-makers and applicants of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps to have a greater impact. The 2023 SALTO Awards categories are:
•    Digital Transformation
•    Environment & Fight Against Climate Change (New!)
•    Inclusion & Diversity
•    Participation in Democratic Life
•    Solidarity & Volunteering
Special mention: Competence Development

#SMILE initiative – Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. #SMILE project team implemented various national and international actions, empowering the European identity and competence development of people with intellectual disabilities in Bulgaria and Croatia and the efforts has been highlighted through special mention in the Competence Development category of the European awards of SALTO 2023.  

Special Mention Competence Development is a category, supporting lifelong learning and fostering the development of competencies, through the engagement of different stakeholders of the field.

SALTO wish to honour the impact of European youth programmes on supporting lifelong learning and fostering competence development, engaging different stakeholders of the field. The awards team were looking for inspirational projects where young people, youth workers, representatives of organisations and other involved parties are encouraged to reflect on their learning journey and competence development. When evaluating the projects, selection commission was particularly interested in practices and approaches to support and accompany the learning processes and development of young participants and youth work practitioners.

SMILE HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT AIMS:

• Good practices toolkit edition #SMILE: https://inclusivesport.org/2023/06/13/good-practices-smile-toolkit/
• Empowered sport experts and organizations that will continue utilizing the tools that #SMILE developed in the project framework and onwards;
• Delivered international sport event #SMILE that gathered persons with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia after set of national trainings sessions in each country.

THROUGH THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, WE AIM TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO:

• Discover the power of sport as an inclusion mechanism through personal experience;
• Co-create together with the partners experts a good practices tool-kit of Inclusion through sport for persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges;
• Take part in an international sport event #SMILE;
• Implement local training sessions with the persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges in order to ensure snowfall effect;
• Ensure good practices transfer between project partners.

#SMILE project is totally in line with the horizontal objectives, pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. The project is in line as well with the priority of encouraging participation in sport and physical activity as all the actions that #SMILE implemented were focused on sustainable involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in sport activities on local, national and international level. #SMILE is implemented by Bulgarian Sports Development Association and Rijeka sports association for persons with disabilities, organizations providing #BeInclusive opportunities for Bulgaria and Croatia.

More information about #SMILE initiative is available at project webpage: www.inclusivesport.org

From September 1st to September 6th, 2023, training activities were held in support of the #SMILE initiative at the multifunctional sports hall ‘Arena Botevgrad,’ Botevgrad, Bulgaria. The Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyze the relationship between sports and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in international sports activities.

In order to achieve the project’s goals, the following outcomes were developed:

• #SMILE Good Practices Handbook: https://inclusivesport.org/2023/06/13/good-practices-smile-toolkit/;

• Authorized sports experts and organizations to utilize the tools developed within the #SMILE project;

• International sports event #SMILE, which brought together people with intellectual disabilities from Bulgaria and Croatia after conducting training sessions in each country.

Through the project activities, we aim to provide people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to:

• Discover the power of sports as a tool for inclusion through personal experience;

• Create a Good Practices Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities, in collaboration with project partners;

• Participate in the international sports event #SMILE;

• Engage in local-level training sessions for individuals with intellectual disabilities to trigger a ripple effect;

• Transfer good practices among project partners.

The #SMILE project fully aligns with the horizontal priorities of the Erasmus+ program, which co-funds this initiative. These priorities include ensuring inclusion and diversity in all areas of education, training, youth, and sport, which is the core idea of the project – enabling the participation of a group in an unequal position in international activities. The project is also in line with the priority of promoting sports and physical activity participation, as all activities carried out by the SMILE project are aimed at the sustainable inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in sports activities at local, national, and international levels.

International symposium “Holistic approach to health – a trend in the 21st century” was held online via Zoom, organized by vice-rector Vesna Bratovčić from the University of Tuzla. The symposium was also attended by guest students from Munich, Germany, where they were introduced with new methods and tools developed within various projects for a holistic approach to health, with an accent on persons with disabilities. 

Representatives of partner organizations from Croatia, Spain and Slovenia participated and presented their research results and insights. During the event, the #ErasmusPlus co-funded initiative #SMILE was presented to the audience as good practive by the Croatian partner in the project – Rijeka sports association for persons with disabilities.

Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project, co-funded by the #ErasmusPlus programme of the European Union and aiming to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. SMILE actively contributes to increasing the integration of people with intellectual disabilities and their perception that EU rights are their rights as well. For example, our right as European citizens of moving and residing freely that is reflected in the commitment of the EU “to ensure that persons with disabilities have a real right to freedom of movement as others”. This was put into practice through the April 2023 international sporting event SMILE, which aimed to provide a sense of free movement and residence for participants with intellectual disabilities.

In the period 12/06 – 20/06/2022, in VUSB Nessebar, an adapted camp for water sports was held. The camp was attended by young people with intellectual disabilities, and the activities were led by lecturers from the four sectors of the Water Sports Department at the NSA “Vasil Levski”.

The activities during the sports camp were related to the promotion of NSA activities in the field of adapted water sports for people with different types of disabilities and special needs. The main sports in which the participants participated were sailing, kayaking and swimming. In addition, all participants enjoyed the spirit of the Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project, which aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. The SMILE proposal actively contributes to increasing the integration of people with intellectual disabilities and their perception that EU rights are their rights as well. For example, our right as European citizens of moving and residing freely that is reflected in the commitment of the EU “to ensure that persons with disabilities have a real right to freedom of movement as others”. This was put into practice through the April 2023 international sporting event SMILE, which aimed to provide a sense of free movement and residence for participants with intellectual disabilities.

#SMILE project is totally in line with the horizontal objectives, pursued by the Erasmus+ Programme, that is co-funding the present initiative, aiming to ensure inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport as the project idea itself is a representation of the inclusion of a highly disadvantage group into international activities. During the camp, the participants also learned about the methods developed for the inclusion of disabled people in sports activities within the Train4Inclusive and SEEYou – South-East European Youth Para-Sport Exchange initiatives.

On December 19, 2022, a Christmas practice of the adapted basketball team was held at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, during which the athletes had the opportunity to practice in Christmas spirit and clothing. The event put a positive end to the weekly training in 2022 and with many gifts and positive emotions, the athletes celebrated a very successful year in which they had opportunities to compete with teams from Bulgaria and abroad. A special guest at the holiday training was the US Ambassador H.E. Hero Mustafa, who joined the practice, congratulated the team and surprised them with gifts.

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On December 16, 2022, the residents of state institution for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start received Christmas gifts and best wishes for warm holidays and wonderful new moments in 2023. The Christmas campaign is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility program of Infopulse Bulgaria – a leading IT company and was realized with the support of the Bulgarian sports development association, which supports the state institution for adults with intellectual disabilities in the town of Banya – Sonic Start over the years.

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In the period 02-03 December 2022, within the framework of the third international scientific congress “Applied Sciences in Sports”, Bulgarian sports development association presented the current activities of the organization, including the SMILE initiative to leading scientists, coaches and experts from Bulgaria and abroad. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement – #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disabilities. An international sports event is coming, within the framework of the initiative, which will be held in Croatia in April 2023.

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In the period 14/06 – 22/06/2022, in VUSB Nessebar, an adapted camp for water sports was held. The camp was attended by young people with intellectual disabilities, and the activities were led by lecturers from the four sectors of the Water Sports Department at the NSA “Vasil Levski”.

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People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges. On 24th of June a kick off meeting has been held in online environment which gathered the partners and allowed them to review and plan all project actions together.

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People with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges are still subject of wide discrimination and impossibility to be properly included in the society. Sport is one of the most powerful tools that can support the inclusion process and in a gentle way present an opportunity for the mentioned target group to feel accepted and part of a group. Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement #SMILE project aims to analyse the link between sport and inclusion in an innovative and different way – by ensuring international participation in sport activities of persons with intellectual disability and/or mental health challenges.

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