A physical training workshop on inclusive sport gathered the partner organizations of the SPIN Refugees project. The three-day train-the-trainer workshop in Zurndorf (Austria) trained participants to become Trainer Inclusive Sports. The trainers will become experts for inclusion within sports organisations. The participants practiced training and communication skills and learned how to actively acquire knowledge about inclusion.
For many newly arrived refugees & asylum seekers a sports club is often an excellent opportunity to meet locals and to integrate into society. At the same time, grass-roots sport clubs lack experience on how to approach and include this target group. They require knowledge, training and qualification. The project “Sport Inclusion of Refugees across Europe” (SPIN Refugees) funded by the European Commission is to enhance the social inclusion and participation of refugees & asylum-seekers on the local sport level.
In this context, a train the trainer Inclusive Sport took place from 8 to 10 October 2021 in Zurndorf, Austria. Partner organisations from 8 European countries sent trainers who, after the train the trainer, will provide the training Inclusive Sport for sports organisations in their own country. Huis voor Beweging provided the training. Also FAI (Football Organisation of Ireland) and the host organisation VIDC (Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation) took care of part of the training. We have provided this training with a lot of dedication, enthusiasm and pleasure.
All trained trainers can use an Electronic Learning Environment (ELE) developed by Huis voor Beweging, in which all activating exercises, materials and background information are made accessible to the trainers.
The first day was all about getting to know each other, the project and the theme. The second and third day were mainly dominated by trainer and coaching skills. Who are you as a trainer and how will you carry out the training in your own country?
Yrsa Wagemaker, a trainer from the Dutch partner organisation Huis voor Beweging summarized:
“We have had the opportunity to work with a very enthusiastic group of people. People with a lot of knowledge, experience and expertise on the subject and target groups. But above all, we have been able to give the train the trainer to very committed people with a big heart, a warm personality and with a great social capacity. The starting point in our training courses is ‘Learning by doing’. Three days in a row the whole group worked hard, learned and shared knowledge and experience in an exceptionally good atmosphere.“
Willie Westerhof, from Huis voor Beweging who deliverd the training added:
“We think and hope that the participants have gained a lot of knowledge and experiences with regard to the content of the training, the trainer’s profession and also gained new international friendships. We look back on a successful train the trainer with special and skilled people and wish everyone success with the implementation of the training in their own country.”
The next step of the SPIN Refugees project is to go online with an Electronic Learning Environment. This online tool will support trainers across Europe to provide multiplier training courses to coaches, staff and volunteers of sport clubs and sports organisations on Inclusive Sports. The tool will also address coaches, staff and volunteers of sport clubs and sports organisations, who are interested and motivated to organise their sports club more inclusive and are willing to undertake activities in that direction. For the beta version of the Electronic Learning Environment go to: https://hvbelo.nl/
