Integration 101: Inclusion of Refugees Through Sports is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership involving USB (Greece), Se Poate (Romania), Champions Factory Ireland (Ireland), IKOS (Türkiye), BAIS (Hungary), and L’Orma (Italy). The project will run for 24 months and aims to develop innovative tools based on grassroots sports and education through sport, including a Handbook, Manual, and MOOC. These resources will be designed for practitioners working with young third-country nationals (TCNs), refugees, and migrants, as well as other stakeholders in the field. The project also aims to strengthen equal opportunities, improve youth work quality, promote social inclusion, and ensure equal access to sport for all. Key activities include a Kick-off Meeting in Thessaloniki (GR), a Mid-term Meeting in Bucharest (RO), and a Final Evaluation Meeting in Istanbul (TR), along with structured Work Packages (WPs). These include the development of the “Pass” Handbook, the “Catch” Manual of good practices, the “Bounce” MOOC for professionals, and the “Wave” campaign linked to the European Sport Week, alongside multiplier sport events in all partner countries.

The project is built on a clear need analysis confirming that practitioners working with migrants and refugees often lack adequate tools and training to use sport as an effective integration method. While sport is widely used for engagement, it is often limited to recreational purposes, without fully exploiting its potential for developing soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication, or for fostering integration with local communities. At the same time, young TCNs (mostly aged 16–25) often face exclusion from formal education systems, limited access to sport activities, and low interaction with local peers. The project responds to these challenges by developing practical, transferable, and open-access educational tools that combine non-formal education and sport. These outputs will support practitioners, youth workers, NGOs, sport clubs, educators, and public authorities in creating inclusive environments, promoting equal opportunities, and strengthening social cohesion across Europe through sport-based integration approaches.

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.