JoinIn! - Social inclusion of migrant youth through sport (Jan 2011- May 2012)

The creation of a transnational network of policy makers, researchers and professionals to search and disseminate knowledge, experience and support

Sports and physical activity bring more benefits than just good health. It also supports the improvement of social skills, contacts and cooperation and therefore has a positive effect on social inclusion of migrant youth. However, not all EU-citizens benefit from sport. Data reveals rising inequalities in physical activity between EU-countries. Transnational collaboration in networks bridges these differences by promoting synergy and exchanging knowledge and experience.

The EU granted project ‘JoinIn!’ initiates and sustains such a network, involving policy makers, researchers and professionals who want to improve ‘social inclusion of migrant youth through sports’. The project is carried by eight EU countries and will run from January 1st 2010 till June 30th 2012.

Several activities are proposed:

To create a common language between network members

• Meetings will be held;
• Good practices and knowledge are identified and shared;
• Key issues and best principles are determined.

To support continuity of the network:

• National action plans will be developed;
• A digital social network will be constructed.

In June 2012, we have reached:

• 8 good practices;
• a set of key issues and best principles;
• action plans drawn up by every participating partner;
• digital social network (including a website) similar to LinkedIn and Facebook. This project has the ambition to involve 54 users of the network;
• a presentation to disseminate project results;
• Sustainability of this project is warranted through the action plans and the implementation and use of the digital social network;
• share results with the ‘inclusion’ workgroup of HEPA.
  

Partners of ‘JoinIn!’:

• NL- NISB, Netherlands Institute for Sports and Physical activity, Ede, mr Peter Barendse
• S- Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, mr Narcis Gusi
• UK- Wales, South East Wales Racial Equalty Council, Newport, mr Leon Burns
• UK- (Northern Ireland), University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, mr Kyle Ferguson
• I- Federazione Italiana, Aurobica E fitness, Rome, mr Paolo Emilio Adami  
• D- Deitsche Sportjugend (German Sports Youth (DSJ), Berlin, mrs Rebekka Kemmler-Müller
• A- Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sport und Körperkultur Östereich, Vienna, mrs Corina Korner
• IE- Waterford Institute for Technology, Waterford, mrs Niamh Murphy