Published: 8 May 2025

Meet the #BeInclusive EU Sport Awards Finalists - Breaking Barriers

The 3 finalists in the Breaking Barriers category use sport as a main tool to empower disadvantaged individuals and help them take part in physical activities, regardless of their personal health or where they live.

2 boys on the wheelchairs playing basketball

Meet the Breaking Barriers finalists

Asociata FDP-Protagonisti in educatie, Romania

Project title: SportMEup - Facilitating access to sport activities for vulnerable children to promote social inclusion

FDP-Protagonisti in educatie is an organisation that empowers children through education. It helps them to lead fulfilling lives and become the heroes of their own stories.

The organisation focuses on children living in vulnerable circumstances – including those affected by poverty, social exclusion, lack of access to formal education, special educational needs or medical conditions that hinder their development.

Started in 2013, the Social Sports School programme uses sport as a tool to encourage vulnerable children to stay in school. There is a remarkable 0% dropout rate over 13 years. Through activities such as football, colpbol, archery, dance and multisport, the programme promotes social inclusion, positive values and good health. It helps fight socio-economic, racial and gender discrimination while also encouraging girls’ empowerment and the inclusion of children with special educational needs.

What makes us most proud is the programme’s consistency and long-term impact. Education requires perseverance, and the fact that we have sustained a 0% school dropout rate over 13 years demonstrates the true value of our work.

What began as a way to encourage children to stay in school, adopt healthier lifestyles, and learn life values through informal education has grown into a comprehensive programme that supports children throughout their educational journey.

It has been an essential pillar in the delivery of inclusive, quality education for all.

In 2025, the organisation is planning to transform a sports hall into an immersive learning space that uses digital assistive tools to reduce learning gaps and maintain motivation through a combination of sport and education.

Since many young people continue to be active in the programme even after they’ve completed it. the organisation has been inspired to expand its support for adolescents.

The goal is to create a safe and dynamic environment where they can explore future career paths, meet professionals from different fields, develop social skills and connect with their peers in a meaningful way.

Andromeda Fitness Lounge, Italy

Project title: Goal – Get out after learning: Empowering Juvenile Detainees through Powerlifting and Vocational Training for Successful Reintegration

Based in Sicily, Andromeda Fitness Lounge is a sports organisation dedicated to promoting both physical and mental well-being through fitness and socially focused initiatives.

At the heart of its work is a belief that sport should be accessible and meaningful, particularly for those who face disadvantage.

Its projects regularly combine physical training with education, empowerment, and social inclusion.

We believe sport is not only about performance – it’s about dignity, values, and second chances.

The "GOAL – Get Out After Learning" initiative was created in response to the challenges encountered by young people living in marginalised settings, particularly those detained in the juvenile prison of Acireale. Over the course of 4 months, the project introduced powerlifting and fitness training as a means of rehabilitation, along with vocational sessions, group activities, and motivational workshops.

The installation of Olympic quality equipment, worth €10,000, enabled participants to train in a professional environment – a tangible investment in their future.

The initiative also had an international dimension. In Azeitão, Portugal, Andromeda worked with a local organisationthat supports vulnerable minors, learning from their use of symbolic outdoor activities that bring together victims and aggressors.

The impact was significant. One young participant, Iglesias, spoke of how sport helped restore his hope, discipline, and sense of self. The value of the project extends beyond individuals – it sends a broader message: that second chances matter, and that investing in people, even in the most difficult circumstances, can truly change lives.

In the future, Andromeda Fitness Lounge plans to expand its approach to other institutions and communities, in Sicily and beyond.

The organisation hopes to share and adapt this model to new contexts, using sport as a bridge between exclusion and opportunity by building a network of psychologists, educators, and coaches.

Bushido, Poland

Project title: Karate in Europe – development, experience, diversity and integration

Uczniowski Klub Sportowy Bushido is a Warsaw-based sports organisation dedicated to promoting inclusive access to physical activity through karate. The club is based on values such as equality, diversity, and inclusion and runs initiatives that reach out to children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

In 2023, it began an ambitious project entitled “Karate in Europe – development, experience, diversity and integration”, with the aim of strengthening its coaching staff and promoting international cooperation.

The project led to two training exchanges: one to Constanta in Romania and another to Copenhagen in Denmark. These visits offered a unique opportunity for 9 coaches from Bushido to exchange practices with two club partners: Clubul Sportiv "D.IPPON N.S." and Tiger Sport Copenhagen. Learning about different training methods, digital club management systems and socially inclusive approaches provided invaluable insights and directly influenced new practices back in Poland.

Since August 2023, the club has doubled its membership, opened two locations – including one in a rural area - and started regular engagement with local schools. All project participants have improved their qualifications, secured employment and are now contributing not only as coaches but also in leadership roles. In particular, improved language skills have helped attract foreign participants. this has enriched the club’s cultural mix.

Bushido’s commitment to sharing knowledge is equally strong.

The club produced a practical guide on international cooperation, now used by other Polish and European clubs.

Looking ahead, Bushido aims to continue expanding access to sport through targeted partnerships with educational institutions.

This will create more inclusive spaces where health, discipline, and community can thrive.

We believe that health and physical activity are a remedy for many of the problems of the modern world.

This project has therefore helped the organisation to turn this belief into concrete action.

Presenting the award

Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, will present the trophy to the winner of the Breaking Barriers award.

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