WINGS

Project Name: WINGS – Women and Girls Empowerment through Sport

Summary WINGS is an 18-month Erasmus+ Small Collaborative Partnership focused on empowering women and girls—especially those who are victims or at risk of violence—through grassroots sport. Coordinated by Accademia Castelletto ASD (Italy), the project brings together partners from Bulgaria, Portugal, and Italy to explore how martial arts and physical activity can support self-confidence, emotional resilience, and social inclusion. WINGS promotes cross-national dialogue, collects best practices, trains professionals, and raises awareness among public institutions and civil society.

Main Objectives

• Encourage sport participation among women and girls with experiences or risk of violence
• Use martial arts, especially judo, as a tool to build emotional strength, discipline, and self-esteem
• Collect and share good practices from partner countries on sport for empowerment
• Promote new social networks and skill-building for long-term inclusion
• Strengthen cooperation between grassroots sport organizations and support services
• Raise awareness among stakeholders and policy makers using research and outreach materials

Target Groups

• Women and girls who are victims or at risk of gender-based violence
• Grassroots sport associations and trainers
• NGOs working in social inclusion and women’s empowerment
• Public institutions and service providers
• Teachers, educators, and volunteers in the field of sport and gender equality

Key Activities

• Needs analysis conducted across Italy, Bulgaria, and Portugal
• Development of a multilingual manual describing good practices in sport empowerment
• Production of open-access video resources showcasing inclusive sports in partner countries
• Four transnational project meetings in Castelletto sopra Ticino, Lisbon, Plovdiv, and Castelletto Ticino
• Two sport-based stakeholder events in Lisbon and Castelletto Ticino
• Focus groups, panel discussions, and workshops with sport professionals, educators, and public actors
• A European Seminar hosting sport organizations and empowerment experts
• Launch of the WINGS digital platform and YouTube channel to disseminate content

Project Partners

• Accademia Castelletto ASD (Italy) – Coordinator and host of European Seminar
• UISP Territoriale Ciriè-Settimo-Chivasso (Italy) – Outreach and training support
• Fondatsiya Kurazh (Bulgaria) – Empowerment methodologies and video production
• Ginásio Clube Português (Portugal) – Capacity-building and sport meeting host

Implementation

WINGS unfolded through a series of collaborative meetings and inclusive sport events where partners exchanged ideas, practiced adapted martial arts, and gathered input from trainers, educators, and women’s organizations. The first phase focused on understanding barriers that women and girls face when accessing sport, especially those related to violence or exclusion. Partners then showcased local good practices through short videos and developed a manual to guide future programmes.

Two sport meetings — in Portugal and Italy — brought stakeholders together to design and test activities aimed at empowerment and confidence-building. The final seminar served as a celebration and knowledge-sharing platform, bringing together trainers, policy makers, and civil society to explore how sport can transform the lives of vulnerable women and girls. Throughout the project, a strong spirit of inclusion and cooperation guided every action, helping partners lay the foundation for future joint initiatives in Europe.

Funding & Support

• Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme – Small Collaborative Partnerships
• Exceptional costs supported activities such as translation, video production, venue rental, and printing
• Dissemination supported by regional networks and public institutions

Legacy & Impact

WINGS highlights the transformative potential of sport when applied with intention and care. The project made martial arts and adapted physical activity tools for empowerment, helping women and girls build strength — not just physically, but emotionally and socially. Through its resources, network, and events, WINGS equips organizations to continue this work across Europe and champions sport as a right for all, regardless of background or experience.

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