Olympus

ERASMUS+ SPORT COMPONENT
PARTNERSHIPS FOR COOPERATION

Summary
Children looked after by social services and social care represent a vulnerable category of the Romanian society.
Studies and researches show that children belonging to vulnerable groups are more likely to face health issues and social deviance than others. Moreover, teenagers who still live in foster homes belong to a more vulnerable category than younger children, their chances of adoption declining as they grow up.
Based on data provided by the Romanian social services, 24% of the children that grew up in foster care have graduated only middle school (8th grade) and didn’t develop average social skills. Children and teenagers belonging to vulnerable groups are also more susceptible to unhealthy habits, violence and juvenile delinquency, all contributing to lower chances of pursuing a higher education or having successful careers in the future.

Main goal of the project
This project aims to identify and help teenagers registered in social care services in coping with deviant behaviors and in developing social skills through sports. The project will give teenagers belonging to the target-group an alternative to unhealthy behaviors by promoting sports values.

Specific objectives:
To exchange good practices on innovative methods in the field of integration of children looked after by social services, using sport as a tool. (OLYMPUS INCLUSION MATERIALS AND METHODS)
To develop the skills and competences of about 50 sports coaches (to be confirmed with partners) in the social inclusion of children from orphanages in the countries participating in the project, in the second year of the project. (INCLUSION OLYMPUS TRAINING)
Inclusion of a number of 100 teenagers aged 14-18 years old (to be confirmed with partners) registered at social care services belonging to vulnerable groups, using sport as a tool. (OLYMPUS INCLUSION PROGRAM)
To create innovative and sustainable partnerships between sport clubs and orphanages (OLYMPUS DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS)
Expected results:
increasing confidence in social services responsible with inclusion of teenagers belonging to vulnerable groups
inclusion of vulnerable teenagers in new groups through sports, developing integration skills and abilities
developing confidence and anger management abilities through sports, making them less likely to face mental health problems
Direct target groups: 30 teenagers/country (between 14-18 years old) registered in social care services
Indirect target groups: 500-1000 teenagers indirectly targeted through social groups and activities
We’re looking for partners with experience in social inclusion through sports in order to implement our project.