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Edition 1/21 news International Workers and Amateurs in Confederation

EU PROJECT BRIDGES MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT

CSIT WORLD SPORTS GAMES 2021

BRUNO MOLEA EMILIA ROMAGNA Presidential st th Résumé 2020 10 1 to 6 June 2021 4 news

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CSIT WORLD SPORTS GAMES 2021 , JOY AND EFFECTIVENESS 4 EMILIA ROMAGNA ITALY 18 AMATEUR AND WORKER’S SPORTS IRAN

GREEN CSIT GAMES MAMANET AS PERMANENT FIXTURE 6 CONNECT 4 CLIMATE 20 MOTHERS CACHIBOL LEAGUE

FIRST CSIT ONLINE CONGRESS SPORT STAYS ALIVE 7 CORONA CHANGED EVERYTHING 22 INDET

BRUNO MOLEA 10 YEARS KOSOVO WORKERS SPORT 10 PRESIDENTIAL RÉSUMÉ 2020 24 A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY

FROM FUNDRAISING TO TRAINING NEW MEMBERS 12 AICS’ RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC 26 ADEPET, MAMANET AUSTRIA, IAAFL

CHILDREN AND GENDER EQUALITY NEW PARTNERS 14 TWO AICS FUTURE PROJECTS 32 WMF, WDSM

A YEAR OF HARDSHIP AND HOPE CSIT LOSES A FRIEND 15 BULGARIAN WORKER’S FEDERATION 34 AND BIG SUPPORTER

EDITORIAL: Director: Raimund Fabi, F.A.B.I. Medienagentur • Contributors: Raimund Fabi, Patrizia Cupo, Majid Javadian, Karin Eines, Ruth Vázquez Pérez, Ismail Sadiku, Ennio Cornejo Ramírez, Christina Gschweidl, Walter Sabbioneda, Gerhard Zimmermann, Davide Gabusi • Production Agency: SHW – Stephan Hiegetsberger Werbe­grafik- Design GmbH • Photos: CSIT, CSIT member organisations, CSIT part- ners, CSIT new members, iStockphoto

CONTACT DETAILS: CSIT-Office, General Secretary Wolfgang Burghardt, 1230 Vienna, Steinergasse 12, Austria; Phone: 7 26 +43 676 847464-25; E-Mail: [email protected]; Internet: www.csit.tv

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ear friends, steadily, and I am very proud of this. In this magazine you 2020 was a truly challenging year for all of will find a detailed report of us. For the world and also for the global sports our activities in 2020. movement. Corona has very limited our ac- By holding our 2021 tivities.D Privately, with the renunciation of many social contacts, Games we also want to send but also many associations like the CSIT with its members. All a positive signal to the world in these difficult times. The next our events scheduled for 2020 had to be either cancelled, or edition of our CSIT World Sports Games would be a moment postponed. And we still do not know today how the year 2021 of great revival for our Confederation and for sport around the will develop. Covid-19 will probably be with us even longer and world in general. We therefore want to send a signal to our will confront us with challenging tasks. members and partners by ensuring that the 2021 World Sports Our 7th edition of the CSIT World Sports Games has not yet Games are held in compliance with all necessary Covid-19 se- been affected and is scheduled to take place in Italy from 1st to curity and health measures. This is also an opportunity to show 6th June 2021. Organised by the Emilia Romagna region the and enjoy the strength and message of the unity of the CSIT Italian Adriatic coast and the municipalities of Cervia with its family. partners Cesena, Cesenatico and Ravenna. Originally Zagreb Dear Friends. Let us not be discouraged by the present cir- was planned as the venue. Unfortunately, a severe earthquake cumstances. Let us positively into the new year 2021, when and the terrible effects of the Corona Pandemic have made a times will improve, and we will return to a kind of normality. It relocation necessary. And I would like to take this opportunity to will be a new normality, but we will be able to see our friends thank the responsible persons in the Emilia Romagna region in regularly again and we will be able to pursue our beloved hob- particular for their decision to help CSIT in these difficult days. bies and activities. Even in sports. For me as CSIT President, there is no question that the I firmly believe that the world will quickly get a grip on the 2021 World Sports Games will take place. We have not lost pandemic and I can assure you we are all working to be ready our determination to plan new CSIT initiatives for the future. to stage our big CSIT festival in June, in Emilia Romagna. Stay Thanks to the tireless work of the CSIT Executive Committee, healthy, that is the most important thing in these tense times. all CSIT staff, our member associations and the members of the I wish you all the best and much success in the New Year 2021. Technical Commissions. I am proud that the CSIT family works Together we’ll be stronger! diligently to promote the amateur sports movement throughout the world in a spirit of friendship and peace. In 2020, despite Your President the pandemic, we have continued to hold many discussions with Bruno Molea key partners and have made new friends. Our family is growing

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EMILIA ROMAGNA WORLD CAPITAL OF GRASSROOTS SPORTS by Patrizia Cupo and Raimund Fabi 2021 FROM JUNE 1 TO 6, 2021 THE CSIT WORLD SPORTS GAMES WILL RETURN TO ITALY: COMPETITIONS IN 18 SPORTS, VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND MANY CULTURAL EVENTS WILL ANIMATE THE CITIES OF RAVENNA AND CESENA AND THE BEACHES OF CERVIA AND CESENATICO. ALL IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

5,000 PARTICIPANTS CERVIA, FROM ALL OVER CESENATICO, THE WORLD RAVENNA AND CESENA The coast of Emilia-Romagna on the Italian Adriatic Sea will become Four cities along the Adriatic coast the world capital of grassroots sports will jointly host the great CSIT festi- at the beginning of June 2021 with val: Cervia, Cesenatico, Ravenna and expected more than 5,000 , Cesena. Cervia is the main organizer, coaches, officials and their fam- in partnership with the other three mu- ily members from all over the world. nicipalities and the Emilia Romagna After Zagreb withdrew as venue due region, and will also manage the host to the damage caused by a violent cities of the “Riviera”, where both the earthquake and the terrible effects opening and closing ceremonies of of the Corona Pandemic, the region the CSIT WSG will take place. Cervia of Emilia Romagna spontaneously Turismo will organize the event in stepped in as organizer of the WSG. All collaboration with the Italian Cultural planned events will be held according and Sports Federation, one of the first to strict Covid-19 requirements, in- Italian sports promotion bodies and cluding mandatory anti-Covid testing already organizer of the WSG 2015 in for all athletes and guests. Lignano Sabbiadoro.

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A PERFECT PLACE EMILIOC WORKS FOR SPORT AND FUN INTENSIVELY ON SAFE GAMES The coast of Emilia Romagna is one of the most famous tourist We do not yet know how the destinations in Europe. CSIT WSG Corona Pandemic will develop. will benefit from the typical histori- Whether there are suitable counter- cal maritime centers of Cervia and measures, whether we have vaccina- WIDE RANGE OF Cesenatico and the picturesque tions or whether there are still travel SPORTS ACTIVITIES ports along the canal. The white bans around June. EMILIOC, the or- FOR THE FIRST and wide shores of the Adriatic Sea ganizing committee of WSG 2021, can TIME ALSO WITH will be the perfect place for beach definitely count on the experience of PAR ASPORTS games. In the cities of Ravenna, just AICS. The CSIT member was one of a few kilometers from the Po Delta the first Italian federations to start The WSG 2021 and its host cit- Park, and in Cesena, on the slopes sports activities after the lockdown ies were officially presented last of the Apennines, athletes and their ended. The EMILIOC also includes October at the CSIT Congress as companions will be able to explore a Covid-19 manager who has devel- part of “Sport Impacts All”. Eighteen the historical centers and compete in oped strict security protocols for the sports disciplines are planned for the the largest and very well-equipped WSG to ensure secure procedures games, ranging from classical soc- sports facilities in the region. both for the entry of athletes into cer, athletics, and - Italy and for the management of the to the latest trend sports, from CSIT MEETS competitions and hospitality for the beach wrestling to Mamanet. The TOURISM­ many thousands of guests. program will be further expanded with different demonstration sports The four venues of the CSIT WSG and also with parasports to promote are very close together. Not even the social integration of athletes with 20 kilometers away from Cervia, the disabilities. WSG’s operational headquarters. Formerly a consolidated protago- GREEN WORLD nist of sports promotion and social SPORTS GAMES tourism. For this reason, the Emilia Romagna region is also host to the The 7th edition of the WSG 2021 World Sports Games during the TTG will be the first “green” CSIT World international tourism fair. For CSIT Sports Games based on the princi- this is a perfect platform to meet the ples of fair play and minimal environ- most important tour operators in the mental impact. So it is not just about world and to present itself and the sports. The World Sports Games are World Sports Games to a large au- first and foremost a celebration of dience of international tourism and the people. The dense calendar of sports operators. events at the Games in Emilia Romagna includes not only sport but also cultural encounters, guided tours and excursions, promotion of the region and also some events to raise awareness of the environment in harmony with sport. Values that are be- coming increasingly important in these times.

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CSIT by Patrizia Cupo, AICS WORLD SPORTS GAMES become GREEN GAMES

aste collection competitions, recycling install separate waste collection bins “branded” with CSIT and anti-waste bottles for all par- and WSG 2021 on all playing fields and fields along the ticipants: CSIT WSG 2021 is designed to coast of Emilia Romagna. promote environmental awareness. Mass sportsmen and women can be- WASTE COLLECTION Wcome perfect ambassadors for environmental protection, ­COMPETITIONS as they are in close contact with nature and the environ- ment practically all the time while practicing their sport. In addition to the many cultural and sporting events, the This is a big aim of the CSIT World Sports Games 2021, WSG’s calendar will also feature four “Rifiuthlon” waste which have a large catalog of “green initiatives” coordi- collection competitions with final prizes on offer. All ath- nated by an environmental awareness manager. letes and coaches can take part in these events, thus cre- ating a culture of environmental awareness. The role of CONNECT 4 CLIMATE the athletes as ambassadors of environmental protection is thus to be extremely strengthened. All participants of the upcoming CSIT WSG will be pro- The aim is also to encourage as many people as pos- vided with a water bottle and a map with places for free sible to participate in the fight for a better climate. There drinking water. Thus, the garbage mountain of throw-away will also be actions that can contribute to a cleaner world, plastic bottles will be drastically reduced. This action is not only on the sports field. For many years, the Emilia also intended to promote CSIT’s and AICS’ partnership Romagna Region has been investing in sustainable mo- with #Connect4Climate, the first of which was recently bility, environmentally friendly transport and recycling. concluded. #Connect4Climate is a worldwide community AICS has also been implementing initiatives to promote of associations and institutions that promotes a policy of environmental awareness for years. In this way, the World environmental awareness throughout the world. Sports Games will become a “unique” stage for promoting In the spirit of attention to climate and environmental good environmental practices. awareness, the WSG 2021 Organizing Committee will

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First CSIT Online Congress DUE TO CORONA

by Raimund Fabi, CSIT

CANCELLED OR POSTPONED EVENTS AND MEETINGS, DIFFERENTLY PLANNED ­CONFERENCES AND COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURED EVENTS. THE WORLD HAS ­COMPLETELY SHIFTED INTO THE VIRTUALITY D­ IRECTION ONLINE, ALSO THE WORLD OF CSIT. THE 42ND EDITION OF THE A­ NNUAL CSIT CONGRESS DID NOT TAKE PLACE IN FRONT OF A LARGE A­ UDITORIUM AS USUAL, BUT ON 30 OCTOBER VIA THE ONLINE PLATFORM ZOOM. AS WELL AS THE 2ND WORLD AMATEUR SPORTS FORUM “SPORT IMPACTS ALL”, WHICH WAS PUBLIC IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONGRESS AND WHICH WAS ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM AS A PRELUDE TO THE INTERNAL CSIT M­ EETING. THE BIG TOPIC WAS “SPORT IMPACTS ALL” WITH THE OMNIPRESENT ­SUBJECT ­MATTER “COVID 19 – WHAT’S NEXT?”. ANOTHER BIG POINT WAS THE PRESENTATION OF THE CSIT WORLD SPORTS GAMES 2021, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE ITALIAN ­REGION OF EMILIA ROMAGNA.

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EMILIA ROMAGNA with its around 4,000 participants CSIT Para-Sport Coordinator Claudia REPLACES ZAGREB everything that a large sports event Borzacchini via email (borclaudia18@ needs and meets all necessary re- gmail.com). The 7th edition of the CSIT World quirements. Perfect infrastructure, Sports Games is scheduled to take the best sports facilities, high-quality 149 SPORTS IN THE place from 1 to 6 June 2021 in the accommodation, a well-functioning CSIT COMMUNITY Emilia Romagna region. The or- transport network and a sophisti- ganizer of the WSG is Cervia with cated Covid-19 concept with its own In recent years, CSIT and its its partner municipalities Cesena, professional Corona-Commissioner. members have worked intensively Cesenatico and Ravenna. Originally In addition, CSIT’s first Green Event on gradually expanding the range of Zagreb was awarded the contract. will be held in Emilia Romagna with sports on offer within the community. However, the Croats had to withdraw a detailed concept for environmen- A recent internal analysis has pro- because of the Corona crisis and a vi- tal compatibility and sustainability. duced impressive figures. Within the olent earthquake with enormous ef- The 7th CSIT World Sports Games large network of all CSIT members, fects on the region. Emilia Romagna will leave a green footprint in Emilia 149 sports are currently offered. took over at short notice. Romagna. And the trend is still rising. This im- pressively documents the strength THE FIRST “GREEN PARASPORT PILOT of CSIT. The enormous reach of the EVENT” OF THE PROJECT network once again underlines the CSIT WITH worldwide leading role of CSIT in SOPHISTICATED For the first time, the CSIT WSG mass and amateur sports. Also, the COVID-19 CONCEPT will include disabled sports, one constant expansion of the members, of the major concerns of President as currently by the new admission of The event-proven region of Emilia Bruno Molea. The main idea is to Mamanet Austria. Romagna will offer the CSIT family bring together athletes with intellec- tual disabilities with athletes without NEW MEMBER physical disabilities to create and live ­ORGANIZATIONS inclusion and integrated team sports. At the WSG mainly with demonstra- CSIT is constantly striving to ex- tions and promotion. Planned are pand its community and to admit (four disabled and one non- more members to the association. At disabled person), Basketball (three the Online Congress two organisa- disabled and two non-disabled) and tions were accepted unanimously as (five disabled and one new CSIT Members. Mamanet Austria non-disabled). Swimming and table and the Peruvian Workers’ Sport tennis plan a demo competition with Movement (Asociacion Deportiva people with ’s syndrome. In Peruana de los Trabajadores case of any questions please contact ADEPET). Initial contacts and prelim- inary talks have been held with some other potential candidates. Currently CSIT has 45 member associations worldwide. SPORT FOR ELDERLY GOES EU

A positive report was received from the seniors 55+, who are also planning a project under the EU Erasmus program in 2021 and

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will submit an EU funding application. (education of young managers in follow-up project to YOUAca has al- The current focus of the CSIT work- grassroot sports). During the CSIT ready been approved by the European ing group is a balanced program for congress the Corona conditional Union and is re-scheduled by the EU seniors at the WSG 2021. The fact that time extension and also the new EU to one year. And the young leaders’ seniors are one of the major corona funded programs within CSIT were family is getting bigger. Initially there risk groups could of course have an presented. The ongoing projects were four participating nations, in impact on the number of participants. BRIDGES (integration and social the following year have been five and Therefore there will be special meas- inclusion of refugees) and YOUAca finally there will be six nations and ures in Italy to give older members (development of the skills of young CSIT members participating (AICS/ additional security and to encourage leaders in sport through dialogue be- Italy; ASKÖ/Austria; HLA/Croatia; them to participate in the WSG. The tween the generations) were extend- KALEV/Estonia; TUL/Finland; UCEC/ formation course for exchange and ed by the EU for half a year each until Spain). With “EngageYOU4Sport” the learning of new activities planned for summer 2021 because of Corona. next EU funded project with CSIT September 2020 in Austria was post- The final conferences are planned to participation is already in the start- poned by one year to September 2021 take place in the framework of CSIT ing blocks. It is one of only seven pilot due to Covid-19. World Sports Games 2021. projects approved by the European Commission. MANIFESTO FOR THE WORLD FAIR BRIDGES MAGAZINE PLAY DAY INCLUDED

Fair Play has been one of the CSIT is a partner in the BRIDGES big pillars in CSIT for many years EU project and supports the project and is a very important value in the with its distribution platforms in the community. The CSIT is the only print and online area in the public organisation worldwide, that is giv- perception. In this magazine, CSIT ing since 2015 a Fair Play Award to has produced its own removable outstanding participants of its WSG BRIDGES magazine, which presents with the “CSIT Green Card-Initiative” the history of BRIDGES as well as in cooperation with the European Fair the many integration projects in the Play Movement EFPM. On the initia- participating associations from Italy, tive of CSIT Vice President and EFPM Spain, Croatia and Greece. Enjoy President Christian Hinterberger, the BRIDGES magazine and take the manifesto for the World Fair part in the self-sacrificing inte- Play Day has recently been issued. gration work of the many volun- CSIT is planning to sign this mani- teers and associations that try to festo, which is already signed by CIFP give refugees and people from (International Fair Play Committee), the third world a new home and Panathlon and several organisations to smooth and facilitate their way such as NOC Slovakia, Barcelona into the new society. Players Association and CSIT mem- ber ASKÖ Austria. YOU-LEAD YOUNG EU FUNDED LEADERS ­PROJECTS FAMILY IS GETTING BIGGER CSIT has been a partner of the European Union for several years The running EU-project YOUAca with two projects: BRIDGES (for will be renamed YOU.Lead in the third inclusion and cohesion) an YOUAca year of existence. The funding for the

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PRESIDENTIAL RÉSUMÉ 2020 by CSIT President BRUNO MOLEA ear friends, the Games will not be held in Zagreb To look at our future, the Edition in view of my annual (Croatia), as scheduled. Zagreb is a city of the CSIT World Sports Games résumé of 2020, I would that has suffered not only for the pan- 2021 would represent a moment of like to begin by saying that demic, but that has had to endure an huge revival of our Confederation, this has been a year of earthquake. Those events, together, a chance for ourselves to enjoy the Dchallenges for everyone in the world, have weakened the local institutions, energy and a message of unity of for CSIT and for all the sport move- which are no more able to warrant the CSIT family. Despite the pandemic ment. respect of all the requirements linked and the delay of this new applica- to the organisation of WSG, accord- tion (the organisational committee Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and ing to the high standards we need for has nine months to be ready to host the consequent cancellation of all the our participants. Therefore, during CSIT participants), the organisational CSIT International Championships 2020 the CSIT Executive Committee committee and the involved public planned for 2020 ( and the CSIT working group “World bodies are showing extraordinary supposed to be held in Mexico; tennis Sports Games” were both committed efforts and commitment to be ready and swimming in Finland, Gymnastics to assess new applications for the with all the high standard require- and chess in Italy), CSIT family has WSG 2021. ments, in terms of accommodation, been developing several activities. logistic, sport organisation, sociali- We did not lose our will and determi- Our 7th Edition of the World Sports zation and security issues, including nation to plan new CSIT initiatives for Games will take place from the 1st to the Covid-19 measures. the future, thanks to the work done by the 6th of June 2021 in Italy, hosted by CSIT Executive committee members, the Emilia Romagna Region, in the Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we CSIT staff and Technical Commission Adriatic coast of Italy. Organized by the experienced another cancellation: members during the last months. I municipality of Cervia in partnership the planned SportAccord Convention, am proud to state that currently CSIT with other municipalities (Cesena, due to be held in in 2020, has family is still at work to promote the Cesenatico and Ravenna), the organi- been cancelled and re-scheduled for amateur sport movement, all over sational committee “EMILIOC” is at 2021. This cancellation was indeed the world. work to demonstrate the expertise Unfortunately, the next Edition of and the experience of this area in terms of welcoming a huge major sport event at national and interna- tional level.

left: INDET President Reyes Soberanis Moreno, CSIT President Bruno Molea and Prof. Pablo Osorio Reyes (Ambassador America) right: Myungsoo Eo (Ambassador Asia) and General Secretary Wolfgang Burghardt

10 | CSITnews a loss also for CSIT, but CSIT has their econom- confirmed the participation for 2021, ic situation that will be held in Russia. I am very and origin. pleased with our participation into The role as the GAISF main initiative because ambassadors is also to enable this will lead us to be more and more athletes within the CSIT family to engaged with the decision-making participate in international sports. process of GAISF and to act more 2020 was also the year of the properly as GAISF member. Through further recognition of CSIT by the our participation at the SportAccord European Commission: the project President Molea during a discussion panel Convention, we will bring CSIT even related to the development of skills at the SportAccord Convention with David closer to the approximately 1,500 im- of young leaders has been confirmed portant decisionmakers, 1,000 sports for the third year (2021) involving Simon, President of the Los Angeles Sports organisations and 100 sports asso- more countries than ever, thanking Council (USA) ciations incl. their representatives. the grant of the EC. Moreover, CSIT’s participation in project proposals for worldwide to the sport movement, For the first time in history, we had the promotion of sport as a tool for and now in terms of climate action to hold our annual CSIT Congress the social integration of refugees and commitment. And with the next WSG online. Nevertheless, the Executive migrants can continue in 2021: a sec- editions we should, therefore, under- Committee members decided with ond project in this field was adopted take our commitment to provide pilot me to keep also the format of the by the European Commission under projects to demonstrate our contri- World Amateur Sport Forum, that the EngageYou4Sport. bution to the environmental sustain- was initiated in 2019 and this year was ability. focused on the reaction of the ama- 2020 is also the year of a new co- teur sport movement at the Corona operation: CSIT has recently become Finally, I also want to thank cor- virus pandemic. The organisation partner of Connect4Climate – the dially all our partners for their excel- of the 2nd World Forum for Amateur flagship global partnership program lent collaboration during these chal- Sport as opener for the Congress has of the Communication for Climate lenging times. again enabled CSIT to present itself Change Multi-Donor Trust Fund of to the public in order to attract the the World Bank Group. This leads to Kind Regards, interest and contribution of sports the opportunity for CSIT to open a Bruno Molea organisations all over the world. new sector, the environmental sus- tainability sector. I believe that now, The enlargement policy we more than ever, our networks are de- adopted also involved the creation of veloping more and more, by acceler- a CSIT Ambassadors’ Platform that ating our opportunities to contribute has been increased in 2020: after the Ambassadors for Africa and America Mr Myungsoo Eo, President of CSIT Member Unions KOWSC from , has been recently appointed as CSIT Ambassador for Asia. Since we are an international and demo- cratic organization, our vision is to involve all athletes regardless of

left: Prof. Pablo Osorio Reyes (Ambassador America) and Abdelkrim Chouchaoui (Africa Ambassador)

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From Fundraising to Training AICS’ RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC

by Patrizia Cupo, AICS ONLINE TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR MANAGERS AND VOLUNTEERS, FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AT RISK OF ISOLATION. AICS LAUNCHED ITS VERSION 2.0 DURING THE PANDEMIC

an the positive values Based on these questions, AICS several possibilities of common of sport and culture be has initiated an internal discussion sociality with the aim of creating promoted without con- since the beginning of the pandemic. new interactive “spaces”. First, the tact and social relations? The aim was to understand how the social competition #Andràtuttobene Can online sharing have emergency situation could be ef- (#Everythingwillbeok) was opened. Cthe same effect or even overcome fectively managed in order to then It was aimed at children and their the physical one? If the added value design new strategies for the future parents and the whole family to draw of volunteering lies in networking be- of social and sports promotion. The good causes for the future. Then, tween people, if the power of the non- association’s response was entirely sports associations and affiliated profit world lies in human strength focused on researching and promot- social and cultural clubs were in- and in building communities through ing new forms of social interaction. vited to design innovative interac- socialization and sharing, what does In particular, the focus was on cat- tive ways to involve their members the future of volunteering look like egories at risk of isolation, such as and disseminate them through the after the global emergency caused by children and adolescents. #IoRestoACasa (#Istayathome) web- the Covid-19 crisis? During the months of iso- site. These were also published in lation, AICS has created the social media and web channels of

12 | CSITnews promoted, for the first time in its partners, reviving its brand and cred- existence, a broad-based fundrais- ibility in the eyes of the institutions ing effort to finance a project for the and the general public. It was not AICS. Thanks to these strategies and social inclusion of minors at risk of only possible to put an end to inactiv- actions, AICS was able to maintain a marginalization. #Sportpercrescere ity, but also to show how the “crisis” direct and almost intimate relation- (#Sporttogrow-up) was the first can become a great opportunity for ship with its members even during fundraising activity aimed at donat- change. the months of forced isolation. ing sports vouchers to children and young people from economically dis- WE GO ONLINE advantaged families. The vouchers can be redeemed at any of the 8,000 The AICS volunteers responded by AICS clubs or sports centers in Italy. demonstrating impressive resilience. It is a solidarity action that allows The thousands of AICS associations young people and teenagers threat- “transformed” their sports and ened by isolation to practice sports, cultural activities by hosting online on the one hand, and on the other training courses, public webinars hand it is a concrete help for the as- and live Facebook. sociations and sports clubs that were To help AICS local authorities forced to interrupt their activities adapt to this new framework, the during the curfew. A double help, national association also conducted a therefore, which was only possible training course to develop the skills thanks to the fact that AICS has ac- and knowledge of managers and vol- tivated its network throughout Italy. unteers in the field of 2.0 innovations Within six months, AICS man- and tools. The aim was to convey the aged to maintain interaction with its message that in the lockdown, only training, specialization and interac- tion with AICS members and end us- ers are the only real answers to fear and isolation. GOOD WILL IS NOT ENOUGH

In response to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, AICS also

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by Patrizia Cupo, AICS Children and Gender Equality TWO AICS FUTURE PROJECTS

ree sport for disadvan- Cultural and Sports Association), ACSI University of Padua and aims to study taged suburban children (Association of Italian Sports Centers), the relationship between women, to promote physical activ- CSEN (National Education Sports sport and barriers in the practice of ity and combat the risk of Center) and the National Sports Center popular sports. The aim is to over- isolation, and research to of Liberta propose a social project of come the “” between men and Fpromote gender equality in sport as free sports promotion for children women in access to sport in order to a driving force for the implementa- living in municipalities with less than make physical activity truly inclusive tion of policies to combat all forms of 10,000 inhabitants. and equal. The achievement of this gender discrimination in sport. These That is 40,000 in 158 municipali- objective will be possible through the are the objectives of the two projects ties throughout Italy. The aim is to following activities: 1. The promotion “We are sport” and “Jump the gap”, promote the practice of sports for of a report addressed to local and carried out by a partnership of four children between the ages of 6 and 14 affiliated committees, federations Italian sports promotion institutions and their families in small Italian mu- and sports clubs, and to the com- under the leadership of AICS. Both nicipalities. It is also about the values munity at large. 2. The publication projects were financed by “Sport of sharing, respect for the environ- of a policy document addressed to e Salute” (“Sport and Health”), the ment and belonging to one’s own ter- entities, federations and sports clubs operational and economic agency of ritory. The partnership will help the in order to exchange knowledge and the Italian government in the field of municipalities to organize continuous tools useful for the implementation of sport. activities of popular sports for all. specific initiatives and actions to over- The focus will be on disadvantaged come barriers. 3. The publication of “WE ARE SPORT” – young people and families using a “Commitment to Action” document “LO SPORT SIAMO NOI” public areas and facilities to improve that will constitute an action plan that their use by the community. will involve mass sports managers It is usually the children who are the and sports workers in training and victims of the insecurity of resuming “JUMP THE GAP” – sports initiatives to promote equality. school and sports activities and the “SALTA IL GAP” lack of facilities and sports offers in small communities. In order to prevent The second funded project is these critical situations, AICS (Italian carried out in partnership with the

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2020 – A YEAR OF HARDSHIP AND HOPE

THE YEAR 2020 WAS A VERY HARD YEAR FOR MOST PEOPLE. BUT IT WAS PARTICULARLY HARD FOR ATHLETES, AS THEY WERE ­DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THEIR FAVORITE SPORT AS IT SHOULD BE – NOT ALONE AT HOME, BUT TOGETHER IN SUITABLE SPORTS FACILITIES. WE ALL HOPE AND WISH THAT 2021 WILL BE BETTER AGAIN! by Desislava Yagodin, BWF

CSITnews | 15 news

n the occasion of the our annual festival and most of the The festival would have been dedi- 30th anniversary of the planned field-days. The virus claimed cated to the 30th anniversary of our foundation of the Bulga­ the lives of numerous people and hit association. We planned to make it the rian Workers’ Fede­ration most companies hard in various ways biggest and most memorable festival “Sport and Health”, 2020 and also affected the work of all em- we have ever organized. With partici- Opromised to be a very eventful and ployee sports organizations. pants from as many countries as pos- important year in the history of BWF. Basically, all amateur and profes- sible and with many different actions We had hoped to organize our biggest sional sports activities in virtually and attractions. Unfortunately, it was workers’ sports festival so far, as all countries were put on hold for an already clear at the end of March that well as all annual field-days, games, indefinite period of time. The suspen- this would not be possible, and we championships and tournaments. sions meant that no sports activities had to cancel. As well as the ExCom We planned a year full of sports could be practiced for a long period of meeting of CSIT, which would have activities, celebrations, new friend- time, which resulted in less physical been part of the festival. ships and many happy moments activity. This was a new challenge for Despite all the difficulties we were together with our friends from all all those who were used to regular still able to hold one of our annual over the world. We had worked hard training. People had to find new ways field-days. At the 16th field-days for to ensure that all our events would be to keep in shape. Mostly at home and teachers we gathered more than organized in the best possible way as alone. 350 persons in the beautiful seaside usual and that the thousands of ex- The cancellation of the 17th Workers’ resort of Albena from September 1 to pected participants would remember Sports Festival with international 6, 2020, who competed in 11 sports: this unique experience. participation (June 9-14 at Albena mini soccer, beach volleyball, table Unfortunately, things do not al- Resort) was the hardest decision we tennis, chess, bridge, swimming, ways go as planned. The spread of had to make in 2020. Especially as a streetball, darts, petanque, beach the corona virus Covid-19 and the sports association whose main goal and . resulting closures in most countries is to organize large events where a Because of the Covid-19 problems meant that we were unable to hold large number of people come togeth- in Bulgaria and to maintain the health er and compete in different sports of all participants, the competitions disciplines. were held in strict compliance with

16 | CSITnews all rules and advice of the authorities. also all other CSIT members have Ski Festival for Banks and Partners All recommendations and guidelines been deprived of the opportunity to in March, the Teachers’ field-day, the of the Bulgarian Ministry of Health continue our work in the service of National field-day of Workers in the and the Ministry of Youth and Sports the community in 2020 and to advo- Water Supply and Sanitation Sector, were strictly followed. All necessary cate for a healthy lifestyle in a proven the Industrial Workers’ field-day a measures were taken so that nobody way. nd the United Bulgarian Banks’ was endangered. And we have done Despite all the difficulties we had Games in September. The National it. None of the participants had any to face in 2020, we are still looking Workers’ Orienteering Championship health problems, they all returned forward to 2021 with optimism and in November and the State Futsal home healthy and safe, which we are have already started to work towards Tournament of Workers in December. very happy about. achieving our goals for the coming We hope that the situation with the Unfortunately, we were not able year. Admittedly, 2020 was a very virus will be decidedly better in other to organize further sports competi- tough year for everyone. Never give up countries and that we will be able to tions for other employees due to the is one of the most important lessons welcome participants from abroad Covid-19 situation. We had to cancel that sport teaches us. We very much again. We believe that a strong spirit the ski festival for banks and partners hope that a solution to the Covid-19 can only be found in a strong body, as well as the national field day for the pandemic will be found quickly and so our work will benefit everyone water supply and sanitation sector, that we will be able to organize all the who participates in our events, and the field day of industrial workers, sporting events planned for 2021 in we will have the opportunity again in the United Bulgarian Banks, the state 2021. 2021 to bring great joy to thousands futsal tournament and the national These include the International of amateur athletes. workers’ orienteering championship. Workers’ Sports Festival in June, the We deeply regret that we could not hold these competitions, but at the same time we firmly believe SOME REGIONAL CLUBS HELD SMALLER SPORTS TOURNAMENTS that the health and well-being of the WITH A TOTAL OF 3000 PARTICIPANTS: participants of our events are the most important aspects of our work. “Sport and Health – Ruse”: Tournaments in futsal, mini soccer, tennis, Therefore, we had no other option beach tennis and table tennis as well as four cycling tours than to postpone them. We hope that “Sport and Health – Schumen”: Mini soccer and volleyball tournaments things will return to normal as soon and autumn sports games as possible and that we can make up “Sport and Health – Gotse Delchev”: Tournament in arm wrestling, fur- for these competitions in 2021. thermore the club members took part in various mountain races and If we look back on the year 2020, won many medals sadness will remain the predominant “Sport and Health – Kardschali”: Regional sports games in darts, shoot- feeling. It is extremely sad that more ing with air rifle, obstacle path and tug of war than one million people worldwide “Sport and Health – Sofia”: “Cactus run” for amateurs have died of Covid-19 and countless “Sport and Health – Smoljan”: Table tennis tournament others have lost their loved ones and/ “Sport and Health – Jambol”: Table tennis tournament or their jobs. It is very sad that we and

CSITnews | 17 news

FAWSI Sport, Joy and Effectiveness RIGHT TO SPORTS FOR ALL

by Majid Javadian, FAWSI

he fact that fitness leads successful in cooperation with the implementation provisions of Article to more productivity and General Bureau for Sports Affairs. 154 of the Labor Law ratified in Iran effectiveness in the work- With the approval and emphasis of in 1991. ing world has long been no the cultural delegate of the Ministry FAWSI felt it was important to secret. Unfortunately, in of Cooperative, Labour and Social achieve this goal, as the majority of Tmany areas in many countries around Affairs, FAWSI has achieved that Article 154 of the Iranian Labor Law the globe this is not taken into account in the future there will be morning had not been in force before. The Law appropriately by decision-makers. activities and sports in Iran’s indus- states that: “All employers of indus- The sport umbrella organizations of trial units under the motto “Monday trial and manufacturing, service and the individual nations are therefore Sports and Work”. agricultural enterprises should co- very concerned about workers’ sport. This announcement is in line with operate in relation to workers’ sport The Iranian federation FAWSI is also the improvement of the sports cul- in accordance with the Labor Law of extremely committed to it. ture for all, with special emphasis the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor In recent years, the Federation of on morning activities and sports and Social Welfare.” Amateur and Workers’ Sports FAWSI under the headline “Sports, Joy and “Health Bell” and “Morning Sport in Iran has tried to achieve important Effectiveness” in the working group. and Work” will have a high priority in goals in this regard and has been This important step will clarify the Iran in the future. We hope that this

18 | CSITnews step will institutionalize the culture of practicing sports in the industrial units, which will increase joy and happiness and lead to the effective- ness and upliftment of the industry. COMPANIES ATHLETICS AND ­OFF-ROAD at the end, behind the winner Tabriz RUNNING Keler Pars Co. Third place went to CHAMPIONSHIPS Ardabil Kesht o Sanaat Pars Co. The final closing ceremony was also at- As in every other country in the tended by FAWSI President, FAWSI world, Iran was under the extreme Secretary General and of negative influence of the corona pan- Company Association accompanied demic, which led to a ban on many ac- by Eshtad Sazeh Co. Officials. tivities, including sports. The Eshtad 7th CSIT World Sports Games 2021 in Sazeh Cup was the first edition of SABALAN – THE Emilia Romagna. At the last games Companies Athletics and Off-Road HEALING BRIDE OF in Tortosa 2019 both teams have per- Running Championships organized IRAN MOUNTAINS formed very well and will therefore by FAWSI after the outbreak of the be sent to the WSG in Italy. corona pandemic virus. The Cup took Mount Sabalan is located in the Although the women’s judo team in place in the city of Mashhad with extreme northwest of Iran, is the Spain participated in an international participation of both men and women third highest peak in the country competition for the first time, they runners. More than 200 athletes, after Damavand and Alam-Kuh, and immediately won one gold, one silver coaches and head of delegation par- even slightly higher than Mont Blanc and two bronze medals. They have ticipated. A total of nine women’s and in the Alps in the border triangle be- thus recommended themselves for twelve men’s teams competed in var- tween France, Italy and Switzerland. participation in 2021. The men’s judo ious categories (100m, 400m, 800m, The Sabalan offers many attractions team has won the team competition 1500m, 5000m-only men, long jump, all year round. The mineral water for the third time. Men and women high jump, javelin throw and off- springs on the mountain slopes at- together won six gold, three silver road running). The teams were the tract many tourists and climbers and two bronze medals and took third representatives of companies from every year. Also many mountaineers place in the nations ranking for Iran. all across the country. The naming from the workers’ sport movement. Mr. Ghomi also referred to the company Eshtad Sazeh Co. took sec- The two mountaineers Maryam awards given to the athletes by the ond place in the off-road competition Rajabi and Somayeh Rastgardani Federation of Amateur and Workers from Arak in the province of Markazi Sports of Iran. It was also planned to have recently conquered the Sabalan. organize a ceremony. However, due This mountain is also known and to the Corona virus pandemic, this famous in Iran as “The Bride of the had to be cancelled. Iranian Mountains”. At the end of his interview, the head of the Workers Judo Association FAWSI JUDO TEAMS of Iran acknowledged the great ef- WILL PARTICIPATE forts of the Federation’s staff and ex- IN 2021 CSIT WSG plained that the workers’ community is one big family and that participation The head of the Iranian Workers’ in international sports events can Judo Association Mr. Ghomi has con- create more motivation and greater firmed that the FAWSI women’s and success, which will undoubtedly lead men’s judo teams will compete in the to a healthier society.

CSITnews | 19 With co-financing from the Fund of Asylum, Migration and Integration of the European Union

EU Bridges Project NO to racism PARTNERS 05 YES TO INCLUSION 38 Contents

FOREWORD DURING THE LOCKDOWN BRIDGES project manager Valeria Gherardini about the Social cohesion went online 18 idea and installation of the EU-BRIDGES project 03 Covid19 has changed everything in Florence 18 Communication even during the lockdown 19 BRIDGES Help with homework 20 From planning to implementation 20 Building Relationships and Integration by New perspectives after the lockdown 21 Developing local Groups and Enhancing Solidarity 04 AFTER THE LOCKDOWN PARTNERS 05 RAP Music Workshop 22 Assistance for vulnerable citizens 24 PRESENTATION Reflections from the Small School 24 Volunteer festival as prelude of the 2-part photo project 25 EU BRIDGES project in Q5 of Florence 08 Cleaning of the riverbanks and the local beach 26 Refugee Weeks Croatia 08 Sport and creative games to learn about cohesion 27 Experiential Interactive Workshop 09 Come together and move forward 28 Design and Mural Painting 30 BEFORE COVID-19 Get to know your new surroundings 30 CRO-AFRO party at the Buena Vista Club Zagreb 10 Teenagers cleaned the city beach of Aretsou 31 Sport, fun and socialising 10 A wonderful journey 32 Volunteering Festival at Villa Pallini 11 Ginger Zone – Painting makes everyone free 33 “Dances and shows from around the world” 12 Resocialisation at a social distance 34 Carnival “Travellers of the Word 13 Photo Workshop in Thessaloniki 14 PERSONAL STORIES Gardezi Syed Anyan Ali – a personal story 35 Decide, plan and act together 15 The story of Mike 36 Drumming workshops in Tortosa 16 Climbing for integration 16 CONCLUSION Living Studio Zagreb 17 Nobody feels excluded 37 Meaningful dialogue with creative activities 18 NO to racism, YES to inclusion 38

Editoral Director: Raimund Fabi, F.A.B.I. Medienagentur • Contributors: Valeria Gherardini, Camilla Bencini, Margerita Mugnai, Patrizia Cupo, Joan Güell, Roger Pedret, Oscar Pla, Ana Moreno Berengué, Tea Vidović, Konstantina Pantziou, Luiza Tsikala, Lucia Mulalić, Chiara Missikoff • Production Agency: SHW – Stephan Hiegetsberger Werbe­grafik-Design GmbH • Photos: AiCS, COSPE, UCEC, Acuntament de TORTOSA, ANTIGONE, CMS, Bojan Mrdenovic, USB, SOCIOLAB, CSIT, Raimund Fabi

Contact Details: CSIT-Headoffice, BRIDGES project manager Valeria Gherardini, Mail: [email protected], Internet: www.bridges-project.eu

2 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT BRIDGES project manager Valeria Gherardini from AiCS and head of the CSIT presidential office about the idea and installation of the EU-BRIDGES project

What was the aim of the project? – a cooperative partner dealing with participative ap- Since migration flows became a couple of years an proaches in communities – on the need to apply this emergency and structural phenomenon at that time, model not only in the case of asylum seekers, but in AiCS decided to make a contribution by setting up a all communities that can experience the presence of professional team and providing scientific support to migrants (including third-country nationals) as a critical the University of Padua and make a contribution with situation affecting the social cohesion of the community. expertise. It was therefore a pilot project to promote After a period of experimentation and reflection, there ­social cohesion. Therefore, it was clear from the begin- was a need to spread, to transmit and reflect more. ning that the goal could not only be the asylum seeker as a newcomer, but that the community as a whole had to When did you start thinking about an EU project? be involved. So we had to prepare the local community After all the discussions, the decision was quickly tak- to treat the project as a whole and use the newcomer en to look for an EU Call (AMIF programme) that would phenomenon as an opportunity to strengthen social allow a new model and role, the community organiser, cohesion. to be proposed for all communities, with the aim of pro- This is why we have started to accept asylum seekers moting social cohesion. who encourage the active participation of the local com- munity (institutions, social associations, churches and What were the selection criteria for the partners? citizens, sports-organizations, theatres and businesses) After strengthening cooperation at national level, in order to provide newcomers with the opportunity to we had the opportunity to reflect on the involvement receive community reception tools (e.g. Italian language, of existing AiCS partners who could have joined us in administrative procedures for interaction with local this new pilot project. And each of us started to engage institutions, job search) as well as to participate in com- organisations that could have had enough expertise to munity-based activities (e.g. voluntary activities, sports carry out the tasks foreseen in the project application. practices and cultural initiatives). CMS (Croatia) was selected for its expertise in manag- Instead of focusing only on migrants to provide these ing asylum seekers and refugee centres, as well as for services, the pilot project focused on the commitment of its expertise in combating xenophobia and promoting the local community to involve newcomers and involve peace processes. them as citizens, even if they were not or are not legal UCEC (Spain) was chosen because it is the Catalan citizens. grassroots sports organization linked to many local authorities to offer sport as a tool to promote social Was there EU support at that time? cohesion in the communities. UCEC commissioned the The project was considered by the German Bundestag Municipality of Tortosa (Spain) to acquire the expertise as one of the EU’s best practices from which German asy- of the cultural and social sector from the project. lum centres could draw lessons. This is why a delegation ANTIGONE (Greece) is an ONG that deals with social of the German Bundestag visited the centre in Florence activities aimed at promoting social cohesion in the mu- in 2017 to gather ideas and exchange experiences and nicipalities. In turn, they have decided to involve USB in expertise. particular for its expertise on the involvement of the lo- cal community in the design and organization of sports Did the project also meet with national approval? practices and cultural initiatives. After first experiments, we as AiCS started to discuss CSIT (Austria) as an international amateur sports it with other partners in Florence. With COSPE – an federation, is the optimal organization whose basis can ONG dealing with international cooperation in Florence guarantee the international dissemination of the best and in many parts of the world – and with SOCIOLAB practices carried out within the framework of the project.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 3 BriDGes BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND INTEGRATION BY DEVELOPING LOCAL GROUPS AND ENHANCING SOLIDARITY

RIDGES is an EU co-funded pro- ject modelled on the CSIT mem- PROJECT EXTENDED NEEDS AND ber organization AiCS (Italy), The European Union co-financed which started experimenting project was originally scheduled to ASSESSMENTS with a first asylum center in run for two years from January 2019 Tortosa in Catalunya was host city BFlorence already in 2015. Since migra- to January 2021. But Corona changed for the second basic meeting of the EU- tion flows became an emergency and everything, also the timetable. The BRIDGES-Project for after the constitu- structural phenomenon at that time, Pandemic has left the world in a state tional meeting in Florence at the very AiCS, an association that has been of shock and forced many projects to beginning. In the second meeting, the historically involved in sports, cultural take an unwanted break. The EU social needs and assessments of the BRIDGES and social policy since 1962, decided project BRIDGES for the integration of project were discussed and explained to make a contribution by setting up refugees and people from third world by using practical examples. Where is a professional team and providing countries was one of them. BRIDGES the need to work with the project, with scientific support to the University of made a request which was accepted by which communities and which groups? Padua. CSIT is as partner of the project the EU. The Union agreed to a 6-month Why is the project that important? responsible for dissemination of the extension until June 2021 because of What challenges brings the project? content on all their communication the Corona interruption. All impor- What tools, approaches and success channels. tant projects and ongoing activities of stories from the best practices of the the involved organizations from Italy, participating partners AiCS, COSPE Spain, Croatia, Greece and Austria can and SOCIOLAB (Italy), UCEC (Spain), now be finalized without time pressure. ANTIGONE and USB (Greece) and CMS OBJECTIVES The final conference of the BRIDGES (Croatia) can be shared and used to The main objective of this project project will be held in Italy in the frame- help to overcome the challenges? is to create cohesive and inclusive lo- work of the CSIT WSG 2021 from 1st to cal communities that foster participa- 6th of June in Emilia Romagna (Italy). tion and ­exchange between old and new residents. The project ­promotes CONTENT AND VISION active civic participation of ‘new’ and No matter which country, third ‘old’ residents of neighbourhoods and METHODOLOGY country nationals are all facing the local communities, encouraging dia- The project applies participatory same problems. The biggest chal- logue, collaboration and intercultural and co-design methodologies to the fa- lenges for projects like BRIDGES are exchange between them. Citizens will cilitation of dialogue and collective ac- mostly the same: How can you reach be mobilized and motivated to interact tion. The methodologies will allow the the target group and create sustain- with each other and to make their skills development of a fruitful community able communities, how can the project and voluntary work available to the dialogue and will result in the co-crea- raise positive coexistence of migrants community. The active engagement of tion and implementation of integration and locals, bring convivence and com- natives and migrants will foster a more initiatives. The process will adapt and munity feeling and install the mixture positive perception of ­migration and integrate a wide range of tools and of cultures as well as break barriers promote the construction of a counter methodologies from human-centered because of language problems. The narrative against the “invasion” rheto- service design, collaborative practices tools and assessments for a positive ric that dominates public debate on and design thinking, to facilitate the solution are quite similar too: Music, ­migration and asylum in Europe. active engagement of citizens to meet Workshops, Dancing classes or cook- community requirements and to sup- ing events. Bring people together and port capacity building in communities. raise group feeling.

4 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT Partners

programs for the International man- dedicated to promoting the values of agers and staff members. AiCS is also non-violence, respect for human rights, working in Capo Verde, Ivory Coast, tolerance and diversity through educa- Algeria, Tunisia and Central America tion, research and ac tivism. CPS grew out to spread its v­ision, expertise and to of various forms of direct peace building launch new programs. in Western Slavonia (Pakrac Volunteer Project, 1993-1997). CPS works with AiCS was established in 1962 as three compatible programs: Asylum, an Italian non-profit Organization of Integration and Human Security, grassroots sport promotion with head- Peace Education and Nonviolence – quarter in Rome, 20 regional and 100 Affirmation and Combating Inequality. local committees, 12.000 cultural and CPS believes that by building a network sports clubs and approximately one of educated citizens who have peace- million members. Sectors are culture, building skills and ­apply the values of social policies, social tourism and en- peace building in everyday life, it con- vironmental sustainability. AiCS is en- tributes to the development of an active rolled at CONI (Italian COSPE was established in 1983, is and influential civil society. By encourag- Committee) as National Provider of a non-profit association operating in ing active and/or interested citizens, we sport for all practices and it is recog- 25 countries around the world with aim to be a driving force in promoting a nized by the CIP (Italian Paralympic about 70 projects alongside thousands lasting and positive peace in the region. Committee). AiCS means sport and of women and men for a change that Through public events and actions we culture as social tools to develop ac- ensures equitable and sustainable de- want to influence the public, the media tive citizenship and to promote social velopment, respect for human rights, and government structures to encour- cohesion into communities: sports and peace and justice among peoples. age them to participate in the processes arts have the power to change percep- COSPE works for the construction of a of dealing with the past and formulating tions, prejudices and behaviors, as well world in which diversity is considered peace-building measures. as to inspire people, break down racial a value, a world of many voices, where and political barriers, combat discrimi- in the encounter we are enriched and nation and defuse conflicts (United where social justice passes above all Nations General Assembly Resolution through the access of all to equal rights A/73/24). and opportunities. A world with more AiCS acts at a national and interna- rights and democracy, more social jus- tional level, through the delivering of tice and environmental sustainability sport and culture for all, to promote and where the achievement of equality equal opportunities among people, between women and men and the elimi- health, education and social inclusion, nation of all discrimination is a reality”. to combat violence, to contrast racism Antigone was established in 1993, is a and radicalization in any form, and to non-profit organization with headquar- promote a change for a better world. It ter in Thessaloniki and the Information believes that the emergency of migra- and Documentation Centre on Racism, tion flows, all over the world, is a chal- Ecology, Peace and Nonviolence. The lenge that should be faced by engaging aim is to safeguard equal opportuni- the community as a whole, strengthen- ties and equal treatment of all people ing local networks, though education, without any discrimination on the basis sport, arts, volunteering and commu- of sex, race, national origin, social / eco- nity-based initiatives in order to pro- nomic / educational status, disability, vide an overall response. Beyond the CMS was established in Pakracand in age, religious beliefs, sexual orienta- Italian borders AiCS is active in Kenya, 1996 and formally registered in Zagreb tion… The organization holds a long Morocco, Chile, Colombia and Russia the following year. It is a non-govern- and thorough experience in the use of providing the expertise and Education mental and non-profit organisation non-formal education methodology

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 5 Partners

and experiential education through art. to the needs of communities. Sociolab Such techniques and educational tools works to promote meaningful engage- have proven to bring essential results ment in a variety of fields including the in the activities ANTIGONE runs, such management of the commons, social as workshops, seminars, participatory innovation in public policies, urban and courses and events and carries out social regeneration, health, education, awareness raising activities, research, gender equality, integration and social annual reports, surveys and essays on inclusion. Tortosa City Council is a public racism, xenophobia and antisemitism administration, which, among other in the fields of employment, education, things, has the objective and respon- legislation, racist violence and hous- sibility of working for the well-being ing in Greece. All activities are planned of its citizens. In the framework of the and carried out jointly with the targeted social improvement of the city, the City groups so as to run accordingly to their Council of Tortosa, in 2009 promoted needs and expectations. They target the beginning of a community process to the coexistence, association and in- in order to strengthen community ties, teraction of the different social groups social cohesion and promote coexist- towards common action that leads to ence. The community process brings equal participation in social, economic United Societies of Balkans was es- together the work of technicians, insti- and cultural life. tablished in 2008 and is a non-profit, tutions, entities, citizens and their asso- non-governmental organisation based ciations. That is, people from ­different in Thessaloniki, Greece working in sectors, backgrounds and cultures the field of youth, human rights and who work together with the common intercultural dialogue. It was founded goal of promoting the creation of un- by the inception of a group of active likely relationships and breaking down young people who wanted to address existing relationship barriers between the social issues which affect the different population groups. Thanks youngsters in the Balkans and Eastern to the joint and transversal work, the Europe. The vision and aim is the generation and empowerment of syn- promotion of youth empowerment, ergies, the coordination of actions, as Sociolab was established in 2006 participation in the economic and po- well as participation, co-responsibility, and is a cooperative and social enter- litical life, youth mobility, voluntarism sustainability and prevention, the aim prise and specialized in the fields of and ­human rights. Key areas concern is to promote a change in citizenship participatory development, co-design the defence of human rights and the to transform cohabitation into coexist- and collaborative practices, social re- intercultural dialogue, the organisation ence. search, training and communication. of youth related projects such as youth Sociolab works with a variety of part- exchanges and training courses, which ners in the public and private sector, can bring young people from Balkans as well as with civil society groups and and Europe together, and the organisa- international organizations. Sociolab tion of local interventions, campaigns, designs and implements projects for researches, seminars and multimedia the engagement and direct involve- productions. It envisions a global and ment of local communities and stake- inclusive society, where citizens are holders in project design, implemen- equally empowered to contribute, in tation and strategic decision making; the shaping of a world with less preju- the promotion of social innovation; dice, discrimination and other forms of UCEC is a non-profit sports asso- the effectiveness and inclusiveness of injustice. ciation, created in 1994, that binds, public and private communication; the coordinates and represents all sports production of in-depth field research councils in Catalonia (created in 1980 to help policy makers better respond and 1981). UCEC has to look after the

6 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT Partners

correct performance of the sports age in their area. UCEC organizes sport councils and to guarantee that sport activities for almost 250,000 children and recreational activities practised at and young people from the age of 3 to school age are carried out with stand- 18 in Catalonia, in 63 different sports ards which will benefit a healthy and or disciplines. This represents 20 per- integral formation for all citizens. The cent of the pupils enrolled in primary Sports Councils are non-profit, private and secondary schools in Catalonia. In and legal entities of public and social addition, UCEC organizes training and interest. The 45 Sports Councils of sport for all activities for more than Catalonia have as main objectives the 10,000 adults in Catalonia. development, organisation and pro- motion of physical activity at school

EU Project

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 7 Presentations

The Refugee Weeks were organ- ized in partnership with civil society VOLUNTEER REFUGEE WEEKS organizations that are members of the informal network “Coordination for Integration”. The Center for Peace FESTIVAL AS CROATIA Research, as a network member and coordinator, but also as the provider of It took a while at the beginning the BRIDGES project, launched an on- PRELUDE OF of the project to explore and get to line campaign with the aim of promot- know all communities in Croatia. ing the integration of refugees through After the necessary analysis, CMS everyday stories. The campaign includ- THE EU BRIDGES was more than ready for the first ed stories of refugees living in Croatia public BRIDGES event in Croatia. The who have already found their place in organization of the Refugee Weeks. the community. In short videos and a PROJECT IN Q5 radio jingle, the five refugees Shazad, Melike, Juhana, Yazdan and Bongo told about their life in Croatia, what they OF FLORENCE do and what is important to them. They touchingly showed that Croatia is a place where living together is kept alive. The videos were presented on social media and also shown on Croatian na- tional television. In this way the stories of the refugees were brought closer to the Croatian population and BRIDGES Associations of the partners of the was built from one home to another. European BRIDGES project organize a June 20th is the World Refugee Day. party on Saturday 12 October in the A perfect date and for CMS garden of Villa Pallini in Florence with a good and important rea- shows and workshops as well as danc- son to get the first Croatian es and moments of cultural exchange project exactly on this day as a start of the BRIDGES project. started. Since the integra- The party had two main moments tion process in Croatia is to which everyone was invited: The to be decentralized, mu- party itself and the presentation in the nicipalities throughout Council Hall of the actions of the pro- Croatia were involved, ject carried out in the territory of Q5 including Karlovac, Sisak, together with associations represent- Kutina, Slavonski Brod, ing foreign communities. Split, Zadar, Zagreb, The staff of theBRIDGES project col- Kuterevo and Ježevo. The lected applications from all those who event was organized for a period participated in the meetings, in which of two weeks only shortly after local associations were involved in the the Covid-19 lockdown. Shortly joint planning of sporting, cultural and after the Croatian society had voluntary events to be held in the Q5 gone through a strict lockdown, of Florence. where most events were organ- ized online and only few live.

8 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT Presentations

The workshop’s results were posi- BRIDGES Project has been introduced tive and promising and was repeated to the participant students and they EXPERIENTIAL with the general population of the were all invited to become carriers school. The school is located on of peaceful and collaborative living Monastiriou Street, one of the biggest together, being their community’s dy- INTERACTIVE highways of the city in an industrial, namic core. rather disadvantaged neighborhood of Western Thessaloniki in close prox- WORKSHOP imity to the regional train station. It is common that tensions and conflicts Teenagers of diverse backgrounds take place in that region, with the joined their creative energy to- school forming a multicultural meeting gether, within the BRIDGES Project. space between Greek, Balkan and third The ANTIGONE team carried out an country national students. experiential interactive workshop The workshop has been designed with a group of teenage students in an interactive way so as to facilitate of migrants, refugees and national participants perceive the potential origins from Syria, Afghanistan and of their cooperation that can lead to Greece. During the workshop, joint creative work leaving the bounda- ries aside. During the workshop, the 35 students explored the change they can make in their neighborhood and community, by working together in cultural, volunteer and sports activi- ties of their interest and came up with the next steps of their team.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 9 Before covid-19

performed a show, followed by a musi- cal performance by Zbor Domaćigosti CRO-AFRO (Chor Homeguests), who sang together SPORT, FUN with members of Afro Badinya. A percussion performance together PARTY AT THE with a musical jam session open to all AND concluded this culturally rich evening, which brought together new members BUENA VISTA of Croatian society and locals. An at- ­SOCIALISING tempt to bridge the gap of our differ- ences through cultural exchange! The Centre for Peace Studies CLUB ZAGREB Afro Badinya, which means African held the first BRIDGES event in family, is an association open to all, Zagreb together with the Zagreb consisting of both migrants and na- 041 club. It was a football tives. Afro Badinya promotes the tournament with mixed teams, or- African cultural heritage through ganised in the Dugave district. The creative musical and artistic projects. teams consisted of men, women The association emphasises that its and children. The main goal of the aims are intercultural exchange, the tournament was to spend an active day in the sun, to do sports, have fun and hang out together! The tournament took place on the home field of FC041 and lasted all day long until late in the evening. Besides football, there were many other games for children and a culinary team that made sure that nobody stayed hungry! The tournament was attended by a large group of different supporters of the football club, locals from the neigh- promotion of equality for all bourhood and people from the nearby and the prevention of racial dis- reception centre for asylum seekers. crimination. Ten teams competed in the tourna- The choir Domaćigosti (Home­ ment: Are you Syrious?, a team of AYS CMS organised an guests) is an amateur choir consist- volunteers, women players of FC041 integration event in cooperation ing of old and new members of Croatian and refugees, CMS team consisting of with the Afro Badinya Association. society, whereby it does not matter who workers and volunteers of CMS as well The CRO-AFRO party took place at is “native” and who is “foreigner”. The the Club Buena Vista in Zagreb and choir was founded in 2016 and per- consisted of two workshops led by forms in various world languages with dancers and musicians working at the aim of breaking down prejudice and Afro Badinya: a drum workshop and xenophobia in Croatian society through an Afro dance workshop. cultural exchange. Domaćigosti and Afro Badinya have worked tirelessly A Senegalese chef living in Croatia together to prepare the songs they per- prepared tasty Senegalese food for formed at the event. the guests. After the workshops a Ghanaian acrobat living in Croatia

10 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT as refugees, teach visitors Bicpop team the Spanish of bike repair VOLUNTEERING language volunteers, by drawing FPZG, a team and reading of political sci- FESTIVAL AT Colombian ence students, stories. MAZ, team Normally consisting of VILLA PALLINI the activity is carried out in schools. In members of this case it was designed to involve all the Antifascist This Community public event in children living in the neighbourhood. In Network Zagreb, Klinci 041, a team Florence was one of the first projects fact, almost all children participating in consisting of refugee kids of the junior of BRIDGES. Italian and foreign chil- the festival took part. Regardless of their team of FC041, as well as Hanan, NUP, dren were to play together to get to families’ country of origin. In some cases, Motka and WAZ. know each other. A perfect opportu- children with different languages at the In the preliminary round the teams nity for BRIDGES to present itself to age of 4-5 years played together and were divided into two groups, which the city. The volunteer festival took “soiled” each other with colours to have all competed against each other, after place at Villa Pallini, the headquarters fun and involve their parents and families. which the two best teams from each of District 5 in Florence. Together with Experiencing the workshop in this group reached the semi-finals. In the all invited citizens and more than way was a way for the accompanying final Hanan and FPZG met each other. 27 non-profit organisations. parents to interact with the other fami- The very dynamic game ended in a 2-2 lies and have fun as well. The visitors draw and was decided by a penalty The project was co-financed by the were very interested in the special col- shoot-out. Hanan was the better team Asylum, Migration and Integration ours and shapes of the carnival masks and won the tournament! Fund (AMIF) and managed by AiCS. It that their children drew and wore. Each The event full of positive atmosphere was a perfect opportunity for the local mask had a meaning to be discovered brought together locals from the neigh- community to introduce the foreign in Colombian culture and a Spanish bourhood, asylum seekers, refugees, associations, to involve non-profit word to be used. A Colombian fam- football fans and club members who are organisations in the BRIDGES project ily and an Italian child with his mother active in the Dugave neighbourhood. and to initiate interactions between and grandparents were particularly in- They spent a casual day together, ate the local community and migrants, volved: It turned out that the children well and cheered each other on! After and a perfect opportunity for adults came from the same school, but it was the tournament the main question was: and children to interact and forge new the first time that both families spent “When will we do this again? Hopefully relationships. their free time together! very soon! BRIDGES had a stand that became a Colours, pencils, paper, table, seat- “showcase” for the foreign associations ing, some basic Spanish words and a that have joined the project to enliven garden were the simple ingredients of the festival with the cultural and sports an activity to enable the involvement initiatives they have prepared. Among of a large number of people in a fun – the participants were Perù, Colombia, interaction-driven – collective travelling the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Senegal, exhibition. The children kept the masks and people of all ages. Children, young on all day and rated themselves with people, adults and seniors. theirs through the festival. This is just one example of how interaction and co- “Leyendo pinto” as just one example operation between different domestic of perfect interaction and foreign associations can work. The workshop “Leyendo pinto” by “Colombia ES”, for example, aimed to

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 11 The event has become a real cel- ebration of cultures. Volunteers and DANCES AND organisers presented the objectives CARNIVAL of the project to the audience: Reduce xenophobia, cultural barriers and so- SHOWS FROM cial divisions and promote community TRAVELLERS OF cohesion. The focus was on the audi- ence, who took part in the dances, ap- AROUND THE plauded and clapped rhythmically, and THE WORD accompanied the colourful parade in their typical dresses. The “Carnival Games from All WORLD Among the visitors was Cristiano Over the World” in Florence was an Balli, the Mayor of the 5th district intercontinental travel game with A colourful dance event with typi- of Florence, and Fabio Fanfani, the a very special passport to combat cal costumes of many countries to Philippine Consul and Dean of the xenophobia and promote cohesion. promote social cohesion Consulate in Florence. Both attested Getting to know other cultures the event an extremely high and posi- through their typical and traditional The party in Florence, sponsored by tive value, which aims to promote the games, travelling between conti- the EU Project BRIDGES, was superbly encounter between people from differ- nents with a special passport and a organized and brought together more ent countries in a close living together. tour with games aimed at making than 250 people in the parish of San The 20 associations that organized new friends between children. All Donato in Polverosa. The event, enti- the festival with AiCS were “Piazza enhanced with fun and curiosity: tled “Dances and Shows from around San Donato”, “Teatro del Legame”, a special recipe for genuine social the World”, was prepared and co-de- “Colombia ES”, “SMS Rifredi”, “Insieme ­cohesion. signed by the Italian association AiCS per Brozzi”, “Laboratorio Permanente in collaboration with 20 other associa- per la Pace di Rifredi”, “SMS Peretola”, This was also the secret of the suc- tions for over a month. “Viva El Perù”, “Associazione dei cess of the initiative “Carnival games Peruvian dancers in their colour- Senegalesi di Firenze e Circondario”, from all over the world”, which colour- ful dresses moved to the rhythm of “Confederazione Regionale della fully decorated and animated Dalmazia the spectators as well as Asian danc- Comunità Filippina”, “’Confederazione Square in Florence. The festival, with ers from Sri Lanka, who made their Regionale della Comunità Filippina multicultural games and more than costumes with rattles jingle. In addi- in Tuscany’, ‘Sin Fronteras’, ‘Libera 400 participants, aimed to combat tion, Senegalese percussion, typical A s s o c i a z i o n e d e l l o S r i L a n k a i n Tu s c a n y ’, xenophobia, cultural barriers and so- Florentine songs and Italian dances ‘Centro Età Libera Il Tabernacolo “Zero- cial divisions and to promote commu- from the Renaissance period animated Zero Firenze 5 onlus”, the church “San nity cohesion. the entire audience to dance. And fi- Donato in Polverosa”, “Il Colle”, “Novoli The festival, which was attended nally, interactive games with the spec- Bene Comune”, “Rete di Solidarietà by some twenty associations from tators, which showed that there are no Q5”, “La Scena Muta” and “La Nuova the region, was aimed at children and limits to curiosity and that ethnic origin Pippolese”. their families. Once the origins of all is not an obstacle but useful for getting the participants had been recorded, to know each other. the volunteers and activists wel- comed the young people along a play path between the five stands representing the five continents. For example, the children had the opportunity to play the “frog game” at the continent America stand. A traditional Colombian game in

12 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT before Covid-19

PHOTO WORKSHOP IN THESSALONIKI

The project, designed and organ- ized specifically for the students of the 12th EPAL of Thessaloniki, was implemented with the support of the event together with Chancellors ANTIGONE and the United Societies which the children had to throw a coin Eleonora Pellizzon, Fabrizio Tucci and of the Balkans. into the mouth of the frog. Edoardo Trallori. At the stand of Oceania the children About twenty associations Among the various interesting ac- could play the “Fishes on the wire”, had launched the event as “Event tivities, the students also chose pho- where pairs of children had to blow Builders” together with the AiCS: tography. The participants met in their into jars to make Australian animals Cultural Association “Viva il Perù”, school with accompanying persons compete against each other.The chil- “Confederazione Regionale della who took them to the offices of USB dren also liked the Giant Shanghai Comunità Filippina in Toscana”, where the seminar took place. near the Asian continent very much. “Libera Associazione dello Sri Lanka in On the European continent, groups of Toscana”, “Colombia ES”, “SMS Rifredi”, children had to guess traditional items “Gruppo 334 – Insieme per Brozzi”, that came from European cities and “Laboratorio Permanente per la Pace di put them in an EU magic box. Rifredi”, “SMS Peretola”, “Associazione Each child received a special pass- Piazza San Donato”, “Il Colle”, port showing a map of the world.At the “Gonzaga University in Florence”, end of the tour of the five continents, all “Associazione Con lo Sguardo di children received the certificate “World Filippo”, “Il Tabernacolo”, “Associazione Traveller” and as a prize the yo-yo with Zero-Zero Firenze 5 Onlus”, “Rete di the “BRIDGES” brand. During the trip, Solidarietà Q5”, “Comitato Genitori I.C. “Daniel the Wader” distributed bal- Guicciardini”, “Centro per l’Età Libera loons to the children who could have via Bini” and “Daniel Il Trampoliere hit the “Pentolacce”, the worldwide fa- della Sierra Leone”. mous game. Cristiano Balli, President of District 5 of Florence, opened Already at the beginning of the seminar there was an extremely good mood. The leader of the workshop, Luiza, was first introduced to the par- ticipants and received some souvenir gifts from the organisation right at the beginning. This was followed by name games and ice-breaking activities to create a pleasant atmosphere and make the participants feel welcome.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 13 before Covid-19

educational visits. All groups are mixed and consist of Roma students, natives DECIDE, PLAN and refugees from different countries like Congo, Pakistan, or Bangladesh. Paschalis and Lefteris are two football AND ACT enthusiastic Roma students from the Dendropotamos area. They want to suc- ceed in football and believe that they will ­TOGETHER meet many different people and make friends. Lefteris choses football also out To develop hobbies and interests, of love for this sport. “It is a to connect with each other, to create and it can bring us closer to other peo- Throughout the seminar, a member a cohesive and solidary society with ple. A great opportunity to get to know of the office staff was present to sup- a common space of expression for others and understand them better”. port the young participants and help all. The 12th Community of Vocational Nader Ali and Abdoulaye from New them if they needed anything. The School Students decided to organize Guinea played football as profes- seminar was held in both Greek and a series of events themselves with sionals in Thessaloniki and are thus English so that all participants could the support of ANTIGONE and USB. closer to Greek teenagers. “We all play understand and follow the course of together, and I feel good. When I first the seminar. In addition, all received The young people decided to form came to school, I was the only African, booklets containing some basic photo three groups with football, self-de- so I was different for everyone. But I rules for beginners to follow. fence and photography and to contin- am glad that there is no more racism, First the photographic material was ue their education through workshops, but cooperation and teamwork.” presented and then the rules were ex- training sessions, competitions and Anna breaks with clichés and plained. The best part of the seminar has consciously chosen for the participants was the fact that self-defence and football. they had about 30 minutes to explore the city of Thessaloniki and apply the rules to the photos they took. The students split into mixed teams of Greeks and third country nationals and worked their way around. At the end of their mission, when they all saw the results of their pho- tos together, they discussed whether or not they had followed the rules. The analysis was concluded with a lot of laughter and in general with a very pleasant atmosphere. The young people also expressed their wish for a second meeting soon, in order to get to know photography even better and learn more. At the end of the day the students were safely returned to their schools by office staff. All satisfied and highly motivated.

14 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT before Covid-19

“Football is my favorite sport. I am glad that I am welcome here, where we form mixed teams. This brings us closer to- DRUMMING WORKSHOPS gether, we will perhaps be able to make friends with some people we didn’t like before and we will find a way to com- IN TORTOSA municate with those who don’t speak Greek well. We are often separated only because of the language”. In the photo teams the students learn the basics of photography and how to use the camera properly. There are also great activities such as city tours or visits to museums. They learn about the history of the city and its cul- ture. They can exchange opinions and convey messages through their photos. Tarik from Morocco has hardly participated in any extracurricular activities so far and is looking for- ward to spending his free time in a meaningful way. “I like football and self-defence, but I’m really looking forward to the photo group starting. I love that there is something different at school and we will all do it together.” Anna Maria believes that the groups will weld people together and friend- Promoting contacts and the offered by the Centre for Artistic and ships will be formed not only within na- mutual improvement of citizens Cultural Activities for Social Inclusion tionalities. The pupils would not have through music. This is the benefit in Tortosa. any significant differences, apart from people derive from the drumming Participants are young people aged the language workshop. Integration, cooperation between 11 and 25 years old. Some of George, unanimously called and social harmony. Thanks to the them also take part in other projects, “President”, has many interests. “I will joint learning of percussion instru- while others have registered for the be on all three teams. It’s great for ments, new friendships have been first time. From day one, feedback on teenagers who are not financially sol- formed. the workshop was positive, interest vent. We have the opportunity here to was high and participants took the op- set the schedule together. This helps People who did not know they had portunity to learn instruments such as people who otherwise do not have a talent for music and who have now the cajón. much time and can hardly be there. discovered it thanks to the workshop. “The changes that such a project The children are happy to organize Perhaps they will now continue to dedi- brings to local communities are sig- their own activities. In the BRIDGES cate themselves to music. “Everyone nificant. When we use music to interact, project they build bridges of communi- has their own character, but in the share and express ourselves, we convey cation and overcome prejudices, stig- workshop we all work in the same di- feelings and above all encourage cama- matisation and racism. They decide, rection,” explains Blai Batiste, a gypsy raderie as participants help and teach they plan, they all move together. musician from Tortosa and teacher each other,” says Batiste. of the BRIDGES drum workshop. The workshop is one of the activities

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 15 before Covid-19

yourself, because you have to have complete coordination between body CLIMBING FOR and mind,” explains Manolo Navarro, LIVING STUDIO who is in charge of the workshop. Manolo is a climbing instructor for INTEGRATION the Unió Excursionista de Catalunya ZAGREB (UEC hiking group) in Tortosa and also The climbing workshop in Tortosa works for a social group in the city. The Living Atelier Zagreb regu- was one of the many sports ac- The other instructor is Ismail from larly organises activities in which tivities in the BRIDGES programme. Morocco, who previously worked on everyone is invited to join and par- They learned how to climb on the another social activity based on climb- ticipate. A perfect institution for in- climbing wall at the Rockodrome in ing called Tamunt. tegration. Zagreb is Croatia’s capital Tortosa. Afterwards there were also “This kind of activity is important for for the integration of refugees and climbing and hiking excursions to building relationships, otherwise we migrants and can count itself lucky the local hills and mountains around would never get to know each other. to have an integration centre like Tortosa such as the Coll de l’Alba and When you climb, you realise that we the Living Atelier. the big cross on the summit of Coll are all the same and that we can all Redó. do the same things. It does away with “Living” refers to a living organism many stereotypes and labels that we that develops, communicates, adapts Climbing is one of the sports activi- give each other. Everyone should try and shapes the environment. “Atelier” ties that are intended to promote and an activity like this and create syner- is a centre of creation, experiment, encourage intercultural coexistence gies with other people,” says 20-year- comradeship and cooperation. The within the BRIDGES programme. The old Sharay, one of the participants. She collective that gathers around Living climbing courses have met with a very also says that she enjoys the trust and Atelier works on two levels: with positive and encouraging response confidence you gain from your part- vulnerable groups in a created safe from participants. ners, which goes beyond the actual environment; and with the local com- “Climbing is a versatile physical climbing activity. munity, as in the Bazaar event. activity. Anyone who tries it will dis- An interesting fact about the work- The opportunity for women to par- cover muscles they never knew they shop is that many girls and women ticipate not as recipients of a service, had. In addition, it also lets the mind between the ages of 12 and 20 par- but as hosts, donors and participants work. When you climb, you can only ticipated. It is a mixture of immigrants helped to develop a sense of empow- think about it and not be distracted. (mainly from Morocco) and natives, erment, dignity and connection with It is a good mental exercise that helps some of whom have taken part in the the wider community by sharing time you grow. Climbing means constantly workshop on the recommendation of together over drinks and snacks, ex- overcoming obstacles and improving other social groups, while others have changing words or learning/teaching registered individually. sentences in different languages and Nawal and Maryem, 13 years old, listening to different music. came to Tortosa about two years ago. The bazaar gave various people They heard about the climbing work- the opportunity to come together, ex- shop thanks to the Atzavara Arrels change ideas and Association and registered immediate- strengthen the ly. Doing sports, meeting people, learn- sense of commu- ing new things, gaining self-confidence nity and belonging and making friends are among the rea- among the regular sons they give for starting climbing in participants of the the BRIDGES programme. Living Atelier pro- grammes. The feel- ing of community

16 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT building and connection to Živi Atelje DK among the different members was stronger in that more people volun- MEANINGFUL teered to be at the bazaar during open- ing hours in different shifts and to do the different tasks. From setting up the DIALOGUE facilities, serving drinks/snacks to new arrivals, ensuring a sufficient number about his involvement with BRIDGES. “I of seats for some of the events, provid- WITH CREATIVE have taken part in all the activities and ing information about the art and craft meetings that have taken place so far. products on display, to cleaning up and I would like to play football together turning off at the end of the day. ­ACTIVITIES because I grew up with this sport and Living Atelier has organised the I like it. And with music, of course, be- third consecutive annual bazaar in ANTIGONE and USB have car- cause I love music”. 2019. This edition was by far the most ried out an interesting interaction Paschalis also went to the 12th EPAL successful in terms of the number of project with 90 young people from for the first time this year: “We have visitors to the events during the bazaar Afghanistan, Greece, Bangladesh, a nice atmosphere, the teachers are and the bazaar itself. The amount of Pakistan, Guinea, Kourdistan, Albania great, they help us to understand the art and handicrafts sold and, above all, and the Roma community with their lessons. We have refugees who are the intangible and qualitative aspects teachers, the headmaster of the very friendly to us and we have a good of community building, especially with 12th Vocational School of Thessaloniki time in the classroom. The BRIDGES and involving the members of the No and members of local organisations. programme is great because with this Borders: Women to Women Collective. programme we will understand more The continuous participation and the Teenagers from the school were easily what refugees like, what they amount of traffic generated in the so- invited to engage in meaningful dia- can do, what they like to do, we will get cial media contributed significantly to logue and to select creative activities more used to them”. the success. in which everyone should participate. Lazaros is in his second year at the The results showed that this approach 12 th EPAL and is waiting for his high creates the basis for a communication school diploma. “It ’s a ver y nice project. bridge that contributes to mutual un- It is good that we are approaching the derstanding and respect. refugees. The Greeks and the refugees Lefteris is a boy from have to get rid of racism together to Dendropotamos, the largest Roma set- work together. Through these actions tlement in Greece with a population we are getting closer to them and they of 4,000 and a wide range of prob- to us.” lems from crime to illiteracy, school Abdul Khale and Amin, refugees leaks and drugs. He was looking for a from Afghanistan and Pakistan, want vocational school and joined the 12th to play football, boxing, swimming and EPAL because his friends and also his cycling. That frees them from pres- brother were there. He had also heard sure. “This programme, the meetings that the teachers and the school com- and the activities that have started at munity had experience and knew how school are great, perfect. They help us to help children with learning and lan- to get really close to the children from guage difficulties. Greece, but also to the children from “It’s a great programme because it other countries. We are happy when helps us to get even closer to the chil- other children take us in.” dren, get to know each other better and do activities together,” Lefter said

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 17 During the Lockdown

Covid-19, when people are physically isolated,“ said the AiCS project manag- SOCIAL ers. For this reason, BRIDGES in Italy COVID-19 HAS shifted its activities to online platforms to further promote social cohesion – ­COHESION even from a distance. CHANGED Starting in April, the project‘s official Facebook page was launched with vid- WENT ONLINE eo interviews with the organisers who EVERYTHING participated in the project. In this way, everyone could share their own experi- ences and had the opportunity to feel IN FLORENCE like a community again. The project, coordinated by AiCS, Participants and volunteers has from the very beginning involved spoke everywhere about the chang- more than 60 associations in District 5 es in Florence caused by the Corona of Florence, some of which represent pandemic. “In the beginning, each the foreign communities of the area. of us worked for ourselves and each Among them, dozens of volunteers association worked alone. The situ- and citizens have benefited from the ation was hardly manageable and network of events promoted in order District 5 was divided. After a short to get to know better the area in which time, however, the whole commu- they live and the community of people nity started to work closely together living there. again, cooperating in many areas. In video interviews, participants in We listened more and enriched each the local BRIDGES network told how other with initiatives and sugges- they experience the project and the tions”, said Patricia, the president of changes they are going through. How the association “Colombia ES”. they see District 5, from a „place of residence“ to a „space of encounter“ BRIDGES continued even in and an active and participatory social times of corona closure and In the weeks of the lockdown by life. From a place where several asso- developed new forms of inter- Covid-19, BRIDGES also had to stop ciations provide services to citizens, action. This resulted in a new its public events. In almost all coun- to a space of associations working real social cohesion between tries of the world social gatherings together for the benefit of a common the different groups in District were forbidden. The Covid-19 pan- community. 5 in Florence. BRIDGES con- demic has forced people worldwide On Facebook since April: tinues to function despite the into involuntary, but also partially @Bridges-progetto-europeo-aics- pandemic. voluntary isolation and quarantine. accoglienza-solidale-Firenze. At that time, more than six- So social cohesion had to work on- ty Italian and migrant associa- line. tions were already involved in District 5 in Florence. The ex- The Italian BRIDGES partner AiCS periences of the many volun- showed how it could: „We knew that teers and organisers of events people were still interacting online, were shared on the Facebook and we believed that Bridges could page @Bridges-project-europeo- also provide a platform for commu- aics-accommodate-soliday- nity building. Especially at the time of Florence.

18 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT During The Lockdown

“We had already published six inter- views and were waiting for others to be published,” continues Patricia. “The COMMUNI­CATION purpose of these interviews was not only to tell stories about people from the associations and volunteers in- EVEN DURING volved in the project, but also to show how the BRIDGES project has impacted on the community”. THE LOCKDOWN Among all these effects, Florence shows the value of diversity as a re- Although the quarantine situ- source and the discovery of new in- ation prevented ANTIGONE from teractions between the associations carrying out activities in physical The event was attended by 26 which together have a clear common presence in Thessaloniki, the young young people and young people from goal: the promotion of social cohesion. people remained in contact online Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Greece, young In anticipation of the physical par- during the spring and held regular people of Roma, Albanian and Russian ticipation in this experience, social weekly meetings. origin, who worked together in mixed participation will continue on the groups. The young people took advan- project’s Facebook page. Also through It was not until the beginning of June, tage of this first opportunity after the the republication of content shared by after the lockdown, that the group met lockdown and enjoyed the personal the association partners. As reported again for the first time and went on a contact and exchange of experiences in the interview with Annalisa from long walk together from the port of after they had not been able to meet in the association “Insieme per Brozzi – Thessaloniki for another photo trip. person for a long time. Gruppo 334”, which is waiting to “turn The participants shared their experi- This is how the BRIDGES project a ring into a ring-o’rose around the ences in many conversations and once worked. Building bridges of communi- world”. again managed to express thoughts cation and breaking down prejudices, and concerns, exchange feelings and stigmatization and racism. We decide ideas through the art of photography, together, we plan together, we get thus strengthening the BRIDGES be- ahead together. We also invite you to tween them. become part of the action! We con- The task of the group was to take tinue to shape our community and our photos that express emotions and neighborhood together! thoughts about freedom and being together with friends and family. The results were mainly photos of travel, freedom, socialization, nature and en- vironment, which fulfilled the require- ments very well. Pictures often say much more than words.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 19 During The Lockdown

Pupils with appropriate equipment and a stable internet connection were HELP WITH able to follow and benefit from online FROM education, which was a huge advan- tage. Many other thousands of pupils HOMEWORK did not, who lacked such resources PLANNING TO and therefore could not benefit from In response to the situation adequate education. caused by coronavirus and the fact In fact, a large proportion of the IMPLEMENTATION of not being able to go to school dur- students were left behind in the study ing the corona lockdown, COSPE and programme, they had no opportunity In the meantime, a large network IParticipate have encouraged the in- to research and also had difficulty do- has formed around BRIDGES. With a stallation of a useful online service ing their homework. They also lacked lot of educational work, a large com- to support primary and secondary any support in their educational activi- munity has emerged in Florence, school pupils. ties. which continuously analyses and de- COSPE and IParticipate therefore de- velops BRIDGES in many discussion The service is designed to help them cided to offer a service in which young groups. How has this network been do their homework, find out about top- people from a migrant background made possible in the first place? ics they have difficulty with and/or pre- could make their language skills and From the statements of the par- pare for the intermediate level test. A cultural wealth available to those in ticipating associations and organisa- staff of young people with a migration urgent need. To help children from im- tions it is clear that the methodol- background made themselves avail- migrant backgrounds whose parents ogy is a fundamental and important able for this purpose. have difficulty helping them with their aspect of BRIDGES. It is considered The “distance learning” introduced homework. Or those who do not have to be of essential importance. by the Italian government during the suitable terminal equipment or do not quarantine period following the health have Internet connections. These are Paola Pivetta, Director con “Il Colle” emergency caused by the pandemic also those children who were most af- and “Rete di Solidarietà del Quartiere 5” has revealed and unfortunately rein- fected by the restrictions of “distance about her experiences with BRIDGES: forced many of the existing inequalities learning”. “The project has shown me how these in society. events can be organised efficiently in a Negative widening of the digital­ strong collective. This is not a matter of divide! course”. Annalisa Morali: “I am fascinated by the way BRIDGES events are struc- tured. It is a very detailed and integra- tive method, where we are also protag- onists and not just executors. Everyone says what they want and can do. And everyone has the opportunity to bring in their own particularities”. The construction of an event begins at the very moment when the invitation to participate is sent out to the associations. Afterwards, their representatives gather relatively quickly to discuss the imple- mentation and to face the challenge. “Each association makes its contri- bution in terms of skills and resources,”

20 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT During The Lockdown

create a social distance. In the online world there was the possibility to stay NEW connected. The community shared their thoughts in Facebook groups, took part in dance courses that spon- PERSPECTIVES taneously appeared online and also in online choir rehearsals and the like. We did not stop. That was the most AFTER THE important feeling. Even if the online communication was sometimes over- whelming, it kept us moving. LOCKDOWN June finally brought the old new perspective that revitalised the activi- As part of the EU’s BRIDGES pro- ties of BRIDGES. We returned to local ject, we as CMS have had the oppor- community meetings, gatherings, ac- tunity to reflect on, create and then tivities. Nevertheless, we redesigned support or implement many impor- some of the planned activities online says Patricia, director of “Colombia ES”. tant initiatives in Croatian society. again. The bridges between us were Each person has a specific role. The Before the lockdown, we worked in- never broken, we just found a new way criteria for co-designing activities are tensively on planning activities that to continue them. defined together, always with the aim could be carried out together with In Croatia we started the month of of social cohesion”. local communities to build bridges June with a joint party by women for “Each association makes propos- within societies. women, bringing together locals, refu- als on how to get involved and every- gees and migrants to celebrate all that one is aware of their role,” says Maria Just as the preparations and imple- was missed during the closure. And Fernanda of “Columbia ES”. Once an mentation for the Nowruz Party, the there will be some more actions until activity has been defined, the prepa- Afro-Croatian Congress and the Choir the end of the BRIDGES project. rations begin. (material procurement, Festival were underway, the Covid-19 survey, definition of roles, etc.). lockdown occurred. This caused a lot What has emerged from discussions of inconvenience and above all fear in with participants and what has been col- Croatia too. It took time to rethink the lected provides information on the ex- plans and the work, to reconnect and, tent to which the BRIDGES methodology if necessary, to restructure a lot. enables efficient working. It was clearly Even though we were at a physical stated that the BRIDGES methodology distance, care was taken not to works perfectly in its implementation with the objective of social cohesion. “We have learned how important it is to cooperate with other cultural insti- tutions and their methods,” says Anna Flamini from “Con lo sguardo di Filippo”. Annalisa Morali from “Gruppo 334 – Insieme per Brozzi” : “I think it is diffi- cult, but it is a start for future projects. It has great value that we can share with others”.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 21 After The Lockdown

“We dedicated the first sessions to the workshop and set up a temporary generating mutual support because all recording studio in the Centre Civic so- RAP MUSIC the participants came to Tortosa under cial centre in Tortosa so that everyone different circumstances and for differ- could sing the lyrics assigned to them. ent reasons. We decided that this was Both Aidan and Imad agree that taking WORKSHOP essential, and we learned to express part in the workshop helped them to this before we started writing the lyrics learn to listen to other people and to The production of an anti-racist of the rap song,” explains Aidan, one of put prejudices aside. “When you write RAP song was a project of BRIDGES the workshop participants. a song about racism, you have to set a in Tortosa. The workshop was inter- We are all the same – whether black good example. The song offers a differ- rupted due to the Covid 19 pandemic or white ent view of society than the reality we but was resumed immediately after During the lockdown, the group face, and this can help us to improve opening at the end of June to finish remained in close contact and contin- things”. recording the song written by the ued to practice and rehearse the song participants and to shoot a music through a WhatsApp group. “I am a per- video clip. It was a very successful son, not an identity number,” is the title project, and the participants were of one line of the song. “The song has a eager to finish the work they had message for everyone to show that we started. are all equal, whether a person is black or white. Discrimination has no place Anti-racism was the key message on in our society,” says Aidan. Another which the participants wanted to build participant, Imad, explains that writing their song. A message that is common this song has helped the anti-racism to them all. On an individual level, many message reach more people and make participants said that the experience them aware that we are all equal and of being able to express themselves that we can all learn from each other. helped them to express feelings and The day before the video was filmed, sensations that they would not have the BRIDGES rappers recorded the song been able to express otherwise. under the direction of Joel, who led

22 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT After the Lockdown

Interview with Aidan Ben Hamidi Alonso

How did you find out about the rap workshop? dignified life. I have also learnt that we are all the same at Thanks to an email I received from Espai Jove, an infor- the end of the day. Two arms, two legs, and if people come mation/activity centre for young people. I hadn’t heard here looking for help and a life, we should help them if we about the project before, but I liked the idea straight can. away, above all as an opportunity to get to know people. Why are initiatives like this important for you? What have you done in the workshop? Because learning something new is always a good We have written a rap song with the help of all the idea, and even more so if you can help someone along participants. Being from different nationalities, we de- the way. Also, just as they can learn something from us, cided to write an anti-racist song as it is the subject, we we can learn plenty of things from other people, both all feel strongly about. We worked on musical notes and the people from here and from newcomers. keys and learned how to organize a song with verses and a chorus. Basically, we learned how to write and sing rap. Why do you think this experience is so rewarding? Because you can see that we all have our own lives, When you had learned the basic concepts, what and you can learn so much from the other participants. did you do next? Through musical expression, we saw how people’s lives We started to work on expressiveness, especially can rapidly change. for newcomers to the area who have arrived here and started a new way of life. Actually, the first sessions we After your experience in the workshop, what carried out were devoted to generating mutual support. changes do you imagine it could cause? We have all come to Tortosa under different circum- If there is a change, it won’t be a personal one, but stances and for different reasons, and we decided it was for everyone. The song we have written together has a essential to be able to express this before we started on global message, stating that whether a person is black the rap song. Finally, we wrote our anti-racist rap with or white, we are all the same and discrimination has no the help of all the participants. place in society. This message could change things. If you write a song dealing with racism, you have to lead by What has the rap workshop meant most for you? example. The song gives us a different outlook on soci- The workshop has helped me gain much more confi- ety than the reality we face, and this can help us improve dence in people and reminded me not to judge people matters. on appearances. Working together gives you confidence and a different point of view than that of those who just What words would you use to define the rap work- say newcomers are coming here to take our jobs. shop in the BRIDGES project? Equality, the chance to pass on a message, and mu- What is the most significant change you have tual help and support. ­noticed after participating in the workshop? I have learnt that there are people suffering, people risk- ing their lives to fulfil their dream of having a decent and

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 23 PARLAMOND HELP servizio informativo gratuito multilingue sulle misure socio economiche emergenza Covid 19

Fai parte di un’associazione del territorio che sta ricevendo tantissime richieste di informazione per compilare moduli e richieste di sostegno al reddito, all’affitto o ai buoni spesa? Sei un cittadino straniero che ha difficoltà a capire a cosa hai diritto e come compilare moduli e richieste di sostegno al reddito, all’affitto o ai buoni spesa?

Parlamondo è un servizio di COSPE, un servizio multilingue in cinese, arabo, albanese, inglese, francese, portoghese per la compilazione delle domandeHELP ma anche una consulenza legale in caso di contenziosi. Altre lingue sono attivabili a richiesta.

CHIAMA IL NUMERO 392 538 6480 dal lunedì al venerdì (10.00 – 17.00) la segreteria telefonica è sempre attiva 24 ore su 24 In alternativa scrivi alla mail: [email protected]

Con il cofinanziamento del Fondo di Asilo, Migrazione e Integrazione dell’Unione europea

In this respect, migrants are particu- larly vulnerable due to language bar- ASSISTANCE FOR riers, social isolation and poor living REFLECTIONS and working conditions, as well as the lack of legal, regulatory and practical VULNERABLE barriers to access public services. As FROM THE in a situation of closure without ac- cess to offices, foreign families have CITIZENS great difficulty in understanding the SMALL SCHOOL requirements, content or modalities of “Parlamondo” was a so-called access to government benefits due to Young asylum seekers and refu- service activated by COSPE to assist language problems. gees from the local reception centres access to economic subsidies and The ser vices provided by COSPE usu- and the surrounding area of Florence various local support services, follow- ally included the translation of ­official had been given the opportunity to ing the announcement by the Italian guidelines, new regulations and other continue to receive Italian lessons government of some emergency eco- important information related to the through the “Scuolina di Poggio nomic measures. COSPE thus support- economic measures taken by the gov- alla Croce” (Small School of Poggio ed vulnerable households affected by ernment. Formula or information was alla Croce), despite the restrictions the closure of non-essential activities translated into the languages spoken caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. due to the COVID 19 pandemic. by migrant citizens, thus ensuring that people could easily obtain the informa- What had previously taken place Parlamondo was set up following a tion and support they needed. personally in class was moved by specific needs assessment and imple- To this end, two mapping exercises “Corona” to a virtual room with the mented in cooperation with a number of have been carried out to collect the help of the free platform “Jitsi Meet” local grassroots organizations and civil available information in relation to the and using the Penny Wirton method society organizations (Accoglienza Non services available. One in relation to (individual lessons). Governativa, Comunità delle Piagge, Le the services available on the territory Thanks to the contribution of the Curandaie, etc.). It was run by volunteers of Greater Florence to support families BRIDGES project, the “Little School” providing information and practical as- in need (such as information services, has been equipped with computers to sistance in the procedure for accessing provision of shopping vouchers or food the economic subsidies provided by the banks, etc.). Another in relation to the Italian Government (such as income arrangements for allocating govern- support, rent subsidies, meal vouchers, ment economic subsidies intended for etc.) and other various support services households and persons in economic offered at grassroots and local level. difficulty who have not received any To this end, a telephone number and other type of government economic e-mail have been activated both for civ- subsidy, which are implemented by the il society and grassroots organizations main municipalities in the area. which have direct relations with the This activity responded concretely final beneficiaries, and for individuals to the most urgent needs of migrants and families. The impact of the closure in a crisis and made it possible to es- mainly affected low paid workers and tablish a direct relationship between workers in the informal sector, includ- people who support each other. An ing young people and women, who are important step towards strengthening often in precarious or temporary jobs community ties and solidarity. and have no access to social protec- tion, paid sick leave or support in case of loss of earnings.

24 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT After the Lockdown

strengthen the tools of the teachers from Senegal told us about the Muslim who work digitally with the students pro-app he uses to help himself read day after day. These computers will or listen to the Koran and to organise 2-PART PHOTO remain as a donation to the “Small his time around prayers. Mamadou in- School” when the live lessons are re- stead teaches Sarah how to wish a hap- sumed and will provide basic support py Ramadan in his language: ‘’Ramadan PROJECT for the process. Mubarak’’. The Italian volunteer teachers were During the Italian lessons, life expe- first confronted with the challenge of riences and daily struggles that teach- “working online” by dealing with the ers and students face are combined. use of the Internet on online platforms. The lessons thus serve as an additional The aim was to find ways to relate and tool to find a job or to obtain social work effectively with each other with- assistance and economic subsidies. out losing s­ ocial contact. While at the same time Italian language During the weeks of isolation and terms are learned to better understand distance, Ramadan, for example, took Italian bureaucracy. place. This shaped and influenced the These lessons also bring out com- lives of many students of the Small mon passions and interests. As School for a whole month. The les- Katherine explained, referring to her sons thus became a moment of deeper lessons with Yacouba, “I have discov- reflection that went beyond the mere ered that he too enjoys walking for half teaching and learning of the Italian lan- an hour every day. He loves chicken guage. Instead, the language was used with rice as much as I do. Perhaps what to exchange impressions about that we have most in common is a passion special moment. for travel. Fueled by the ambition to 15 hours a day you don’t eat or discover new places and make new ex- drink,” says Yacouba, “and there are periences that help us grow as people”. many moments when you stop what On his long journey to Italy, which you are doing to pray. Boukhadry began 7 years ago, Yacouba lived in After the lockdown, two specific many African countries, including photo projects were organized in Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Thessaloniki for the second photo Faso, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. In course. It was a 2-part photo project many of these countries he stayed for about nature. The initial team had several months to work. In others he grown further as the students from was only briefly in transit. the first course brought their en- In this and other ways, the lessons thusiastic friends with them. Other continued and made it possible to young people joined in after see- cultivate a sense of community and ing the BRIDGES activities in social closeness even during the enforced ­media. quarantine. This is due to the fact that the Small School is not only an Italian The group met in Xarchakos Park, school, but also a space for the ex- the larger and most central park in change of ideas, opinions and knowl- Thessaloniki. After a short introduc- edge: the beginning of meetings and tion, the photo­graphic activities be- the building of BRIDGES! gan. The team was divided into mixed groups of 4-5 people, in this way the young people worked together and strengthened their bonds.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 25 were also many portrait photos that the young people liked very much and which they shared with CLEANING OF each other through social media. Portraits bring people closer to- gether – face to face – and provide RIVERBANKS opportunities for conversation and deeper interaction. Before their trip to Peräa, the AND young people had the opportu- nity to find out about the activi- ties of the General Secretariat for LOCAL BEACHES Youth, whose office is located in the port of Thessaloniki. Mr. Babis A day of cleaning up the riverbanks Papaioannou, the office manager, and the local beach of Xiquina ended had already been informed about the the series of workshops in Tortosa, BRIDGES project and, as the main actor which was interrupted by the Covid-19 in the youth activities in Thessaloniki, lockdown. One of these activities had a lot of useful information to share was the study of invertebrates in the with the BRIDGES team. Ebro River in Tortosa and environ- At the end of the 2nd photo course, mental measures to protect the river. all young participants – natives, immi- Invertebrates thus became part of Each group chose a different pho- grants and refugees – stood in a large the European BRIDGES project and tographic method, such as focusing on circle and talked about how they see promoted intercultural understand- shadows, symmetries, asymmetries their future. They talked about school, ing through environmental protection or balance. The teams looked for im- studies, the job they want to do and measures. ages in nature that would give them a other goals. They talked about whether special result with the play of light and they wanted to stay in Greece, leave for The environmental workshops ex- colors. Technical questions to improve other countries or return to their coun- amined riparian vegetation and carried photography, difficulties and solutions try of origin. out studies on juvenile fish and aquatic were discussed together and the fol- In each case, photography has macroin- lowing week the work was presented proved to be a very good activity for verte- online to everyone. promoting communication, teamwork brates, For the second project, the group and artistic expression. The Action also which live travelled by ferry to nearby Peräa encouraged the planning of further in the Ebro to explore the marine world. The 28 joint activities. Photography helps peo- and are bio- young men and women were divided ple to work with others despite differ- indicators into groups during the cruise in which ences in language and culture. they knew no one. The group consisted Thanks to this first coexistence of people who were neither friends nor as members of the same group, the spoke the same language. The “mis- young people have gradually built sion” was to learn as much as possible relationships of trust and friendship. about their couple in the 50 minutes of Far from any kind of prejudice, in the the trip. knowledge that they can live together As in the previous workshop, they harmoniously, create values and help discussed and photographed mo- each other. ments of life by the sea, landscapes or objects that interested them. There

26 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT of water quality in the river in Tortosa. During the project, participants sur- veyed, analysed and maintained a SPORT AND 650-metre section of the river, from acceptance in the social media channels. the mouth of the Celio Gorge in the “I was amazed at the ease with Ebro to Xiquina beach. CREATIVE GAMES which children can be inspired and also “In my experience, nature and its at their obvious superiority over us care are things that young people al- adults, as they adapted very quickly,” ways love. They may show little inter- TO LEARN ABOUT said Giacomo Mei of the association est in some subjects, but the protec- “Il Colle”, one of the people who ac- tion of nature and the environment is company the children on their journey close to their hearts. Especially when COHESION through the five continents. “Both girls we talk about the local environment and boys are very easy to inspire, even and they can gain practical experi- In July the “Laboratori dal Mondo” if they have and develop preferences ence and see real examples, instead of (“Workshops from all over the world”) by nature. They show us that preju- listening to an academic explanation were held in Florence’s District 5: dices belong more to the adult world of distant problems like the Amazon. three afternoons of artistic, educa- and are very easy to overcome”. As the participants are from different tional and sporting activities for chil- Apart from a few participants who backgrounds and cultures, this activ- dren aged six to twelve, organised in had come with friends or siblings, ity is a perfect reason to meet and the “Madonnina del Grappa” halls of unaccompanied children were mainly exchange ideas on new topics,” says the “Opera della Divina Provvidenza”. present. Even those who were initially Viqui Carles, chair of the Graëllsia en- insecure overcame the difficulties very vironmental group and coordinator of Italian and foreign associations from quickly and integrated without any the workshop. District 5 of Florence came together to problems. As in the “Little Saviours One of the last meetings was about live and experience together sports, Grow” action of “Misericordia di Rifredi”, collecting waste on Xiquina beach to educational, artistic and cultural activi- where participants help each other in raise people’s awareness of the need ties from all over the world. The children simulated first aid procedures. to preserve local natural areas. Clean- again had the opportunity to travel In the workshops some children up operations are necessary and work “5 continents” and at the end of the day tried their hand at sports activities against daily deterioration. “I think print out their “world passport”. Each such as tennis, rugby or football for the situation caused by the Covid 19 workshop took place in strict compliance the first time. Like a 12-year-old boy pandemic could help us to change our with the safety regulations of Covid-19. from Colombia who sees football as mentality. It is nature’s warning that All the associations involved in this his big chance and was invited by the we are weak. The relationship between initiative planned their activities against coaches to take part in the local train- people and our natural environment geographical, ethnic-cultural and linguis- ing in September. The idea is to give must change. Even our cities. In the tic differences, thus creating new oppor- him the opportunity to play the same specific case of our workshop, the tunities for exchange and interaction sport as his father and uncle. The boy young people who took part in clean- between the participants. For example, will be able to experience family tradi- ing up the river had fun and had an the use of the smartphone translator in tions together with his friends from the experience that will remain in their the very amusing interaction between a neighbourhood. Other children had memories,” adds Carles. little foreign girl and members of the as- the opportunity to make new friends sociation “La Città Bambina”. and have already exchanged contacts. During the workshop “Orto Bimbo” At the end the children were asked all used their social media functions to which part of the workshops they liked make the activities accessible to every- best. The answer was short but clear: one. BRIDGES made it possible to over- “Everything! come cultural barriers and to reduce shy- ness and fear through the exchange and

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 27 After the Lockdown

Twenty-two-year-old Rabha Et Taouil children in Tortosa through different is studying Business Management and leisure activities. Rabha gave Catalan COME TOGETHER Administration (ADE) at the Rovira i language classes there to elderly stu- Virgili University in Tortosa. dents and has finished her role as a volunteer worker at the summer camp AND MOVE She has worked for Atzavara Arrels, Atzavara Arrels which was organized as a community-based group in Tortosa part of the BRIDGES project. focused on providing educational and FORWARD emotional support to youngsters and

Interview with Rabha Et Taouil

How did you find out about the project? and religions, to set up links and communication among I heard about it at our local community meetings, people and, thus, break down the prejudices and ste- through the Tortosa council social networks, and also reotypes that some of us may have. It is an important thanks to the information Atzavara sent to our Whatsapp project to develop good communication between the group. different social groups here.

Why did you decide to work as a volunteer at the Do you think it is important to create these rela- summer camp? tionships? I have always done voluntary work in my free time. Actually I decided I wanted to participate as soon as I For example, I help at Atzavara Arrels carrying out activi- saw that this is the aim of the project. I am keen on par- ties with young children and when I saw the chance to ticipating in projects to get to know people from other participate in the summer camp, I jumped at it. I have communities and to do away with stereotyped images of always been interested in knowing how these camps them, and I am pleased that the project has been able to work and what activities they do. My objective was to continue, despite the current situation, with organizers get to know new people and gain more experience, to and participants taking all the health and safety meas- see new activities and games, and to meet people from ures necessary. other communities. What experiences have you gained after working Why is it ­important to carry out a project like? as a volunteer? At the community process meeting where they pre- It has been a great experience for me. We created a sented the project, they explained that BRIDGES aims to close-knit group between the volunteer workers and the bring together people from different social communities camp monitors. We were all in it together and I felt as

28 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT After the Lockdown

if I was one of the monitors. They made us feel like we Will you keep meeting the summer camp partici- belonged. Also, any time I wanted to share my opinions pants? about the activities, everyone was ready to listen. We have set up a Whatsapp group to keep in . We sent photos and other ideas about the camp to all What was it like getting to know other volunteers? the participants and now our aim is to stay in touch and Great, now I know new people! I had seen the moni- keep participating in similar projects. tors before but at the camp I met volunteers like Haidam, Mohamed and Alba. They were all very friendly and keen Would you like to give support to other activities to participate in the summer camp like me. We met up like BRIDGES? beforehand every day to share out the activities and we Projects like BRIDGES are necessary for a community really enjoyed being with each other. to move forward, projects where we come together and communicate, where everyone shares something with What were these meetings like? others. A few days ago we did an activity with the chil- The first day we were a bit shy but after that it went dren related to colours. Everyone had just one colour well. The best thing was that the summer camp was al- and to finish their painting they had to use the colours ready well organized and so we knew what activities we their companions had. The colours represented atti- had to do each week. After the daily meetings we had tudes, culture, experiences, and if you wanted to colour half an hour before the children arrived for us to organ- in your picture, you had to ask your companions for the ize material and groups. Then we checked who came and colours you needed. The idea is that we need to work took their temperature as they arrived, following all the together to move forward. health advice we were given. Once we had finished the day’s camp, and the children had gone home, we met up What do you think is of the importance for volun- again, the monitors and volunteers, to talk about how teer workers? things had gone and whether there was anything we It is important for groups or organizations to have should know about the next day’s activities. keen volunteers who can bring their own ideas. In our case, sometimes both children and volunteers have What was the most important thing for you about come up with ideas which have eventually become ac- meeting new people? tivities which weren’t originally planned. As I said, being Just that, meeting people. Sharing opinions, playing a volunteer is great because you enjoy new experiences, games together, spending time together. These projects meet new people, and see new opportunities. are great, and in this case, they have helped people like me, to be able to do voluntary work. They are also a How would you sum up the activities you have chance for children to get out and discover new things. participated in BRIDGES project? The fact is that projects like this are essential. These projects are excellent. Being a volunteer helps you enjoy them. In Tortosa there are many associations What did you like best and least about the project? which you can join as a volunteer. The summer camp has What I have enjoyed the most is the fact that we were helped me a lot and I hope to stay in contact with them. a group who worked well together and that the children had a great time, that’s the most important thing, that they enjoyed it and wanted to come. What I liked the least is the simple fact of knowing that it would come to an end and we would no longer be together every day. But, the best thing is that now we know each other and we will get together again to do more projects like this.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 29 After the Lockdown

told us we were going to paint it on a huge wall for people to see, we were DESIGN AND even more amazed,” says 12-year-old GET TO KNOW Martí, one of the workshop partici- pants. MURAL Martí explains that projects like this YOUR NEW workshop are beneficial to the city “because there are many run-down ar- PAINTING eas or buildings that nobody uses, and SURROUNDINGS this is a way to use them, make them The Design and Mural Painting more beautiful and improve the area”. A bicycle tour is often one of the Workshop was one of the cultural ac- Colleague Mohamed, also 12 years old, best ways for immigrants in particu- tivities in the BRIDGES Social Inclusion said that apart from the opportunity lar to relieve stress, get their bodies Programme, which takes place in to paint a huge wall with a variety of moving and get to know their new Tortosa. The final activity of the work- colours, the workshop was a great surroundings better, the latter being shop was the painting of a mural with opportunity to meet people who are extremely important for immigrants aspects of Tortosa’s cultural life in the different from those with whom one when they are new to a city. It is im- old Samo factory – an unused building is normally associated. People from portant for them to explore their new that is to be transformed into a centre different communities, and that this opportunities and also make better for social and cultural groups. “means having more friends and less choices. conflict”. Some thirty young people aged be- Under the guidance of their tutor Within the framework of the tween 6 and 16 have been working on Paula, the young people demonstrated BRIDGES project, COSPE, in collabora- aspects such as relationships between their talents with paint and brush and tion with the association “Io Voglio people, intercultural links and solidar- worked together to carry out this pro- Associazione dei desideri”, has organ- ity through design work and mural ject which they consider important be- ised an interesting bicycle tour in the painting. The first sessions of the work- cause many people will see it. “Thanks town of Scandicci with the “Gran Tour”. shop were theory-based and taught to this workshop we came here to A journey through the city’s past, to get participants about artistic creation and paint this unused building and leave a to know history in small doses and also graffiti around the world. In the -prac memory of the BRIDGES project, which to discover the present. To see how tical part, the young people painted will be here forever,” Mohamed added. the social composition of the town has their artistic proposal on a large wall in evolved. the abandoned factory. A group of unaccompanied minors “We had to create images that relate took part in the activity. Young people to the cultural side of Tortosa, such living in reception centres in the sub- as the huge fig- urbs of Florence and near the town ures known as of Scandicci, which is just a cycle ride ‘gegants’ who away. dance at local The “Gran Tour” included 14 stops, festivals, or the some of which told the story of re- firework groups sistance to fascist groups, such as at summer fire the bridge and Ponte Piazza Marconi festivals. When (Marconi Square). Others led to the the organisers industrial district of the city, where explained it to many international companies like us, we were Gucci have their head­quarters. Or very excited, Powersoft, who installed in Mecca the and when they audio system with 4000 amplifiers,

30 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT After the Lockdown

The original idea was to invite local youth and local authorities, NGOs etc. TEENAGERS to participate in the event. However, due to the pandemic measures, only some representatives of the local com- CLEANED munity of Kalamaria were able to come and meet the young people. In fact, the Deputy Mayor for Cleaning, Green THE CITY BEACH and Recycling of the Municipality of Kalamaria, Mr. Stylianos Matsaridis, visited the BRIDGES team, discussed OF ARETSOU with the participants, informed him- self about the project and expressed The youth group BRIDGES from his ideas for further activities also with Thessaloniki organized a voluntary the local youth! action to clean up the beach of At the end of the day the partici- Aretsou. The young people involved pants enjoyed the result of their vol- were unaccompanied refugees untary action, the beauty of the clean and migrants from Bangladesh, beach. It was a great experience for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Roma from the them to take care of the city and its na- Dendropotamos area and Greek youth ture together, make friends and “build from the western part of the city, bridges”. which calls to prayer for the faithful where the poorest neighborhoods five times a day. are located. The group was supported At each station, participants were by trainers and volunteers from the asked to interact with each other and NGOs ANTIGONE and ARSIS. exchange their opinions on the specific theme of the station. A very special With this exemplary action, the moment was the stop at the house of group decided to go beyond the nar- Paolo Staccioli, a former welder and row limits of their own area and be- famous sculptor in Scandicci. Everyone come active in the eastern part of the had the opportunity to take a look in- city. As the young people quite rightly side his laboratory and admire some pointed out, there is no such thing as of the many sculptures that also filled western or eastern Thessaloniki, be- his garden. One of the participants cause the city is a unity and belongs promptly replied that he wanted to to all. Everybody must pay attention to become a welder one day, when asked everything. about his career aspirations. At the beginning, an environmen- “With the Gran Tour, participants tal awareness game was organized in can make much better decisions about order to link the whole their future if they know what the area volunteering event to a has to offer. Scandicci has one of the sustainable lifestyle that largest leather industries in the world. must be adopted by eve- They just need to know that they have ryone. The young people a wide range of options,” said tour divided into groups of guide Francesco Gori. three and cleaned the beach of plastic and other light rubbish.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 31 After the Lockdown

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY special there. Although in the end, this USB trainee Vasilia Tsampouri took event was more than just special. One of them even sang his own songs part in a USB community meeting or- On the day of the project, we met at the event and told us that he liked ganised jointly with ANTIGONE and the colleagues from Antigone for the writing songs in his spare time, after wrote down her experiences, espe- first time and drove to the school, work or after school. Some of them cially with the BRIDGES project. which did not remind us of a school at were very distant and shy, others came all. The young people there are housed directly to us, but nobody showed that Before this meeting, I never serious- in an old building, without enough win- he was looking forward to what he was ly considered volunteering anywhere. dows to let light into the rooms, and going to do. Although I always wanted to be part of above all without a courtyard where We started to talk to them about an a­ ssociation, I always had other com- they can spend their breaks. How is their everyday life and interests. There mitments. After my studies I started it possible for them to spend most of were also three translators to help looking for a suitable internship and their days in such a place? It was imme- those who were not fluent in Greek or decided to get involved in an NGO, the diately clear to all of us that together English. After a while the other children USB, in addition to the various com- we had to create an environment that came with the teachers, looked at us panies. In the USB I was accepted and would positively change this bourgeois in amazement but started to play and with that my journey as a volunteer atmosphere. there was a lot of laughter. began. We were also informed about I talked to a teenager named George The USB informed me about their EU the everyday life of the pupils there, who helped us distribute food. He has project BRIDGES, in which my partici- which was filled with school and work. been working since he was 14 years pation was necessary. My supervisors Somewhere there it became clear to old, and now at 17 he could not imag- Luiza and Chara, both members of the me how important our project was and ine what life without work would be organisation, made sure that I received what we would do on that day. Because like. It was more necessary for him to detailed information about the project with our small contribution these chil- work than to study. and especially dren would have the opportunity for a Later, Ahmed, who timidly tried to about the event. big change in their everyday life. teach the others , explained that I thought it was it was a popular sport in his country, part of my du- Do you remember the excitement but that he had not been able to prac- ties. But I didn’t I did not have at the beginning? tice it since he arrived in Greece. As he think that I would What you have done now! explained, he began to feel more and do anything On this day the children had the op- more comfortable and the children portunity to say what activities they watched him with interest and applaud- would like to do and when their pro- ed to encourage him. When he was fin- gramme would allow them to do them. ished, he just sat there and smiled. We wanted them to show us their Somewhere there I felt deeply preferences and we did the rest. We moved. These children live like adults, started to decorate the room with pic- but much more intensely. I looked at tures and made boxes with the names John, a colleague from USB, and we of the activities on which the children both had a feeling of satisfaction. showed what they liked with stickers. The atmosphere was much better. The children started to grow slowly.

32 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT After the Lockdown

gain independence and perhaps find a job. But the most important question GINGER ZONE – is still how and where to create belong- ing. Cospe, in collaboration with the PAINTING Scandicci Town Council, has obtained the free use of the Ginger Zone build- ing, which was completely renovated MAKES last year. The aim with the space is to focus on young people, including unac- companied minors, on their dreams, have participated in street art labo- EVERYONE FREE hopes and creativity and to host train- ratories called “Disegno libera tutti” ing courses, start-ups and innovative (Painting liberates all). Four street art- Immigration is a pretty big deal. It activities. The concept of the Ginger ists have embellished the outer walls is difficult for adults, but apparently Zone is to be a space for everyone, of the Ginger and dedicated a special easier for younger people because where young people can feel at home, part of the building to these minors to they adapt more quickly. But then where they would like to spend time paint with the help of the artists. there is the so-called integration pro- and grow. Some of them marked their name, cess for everyone, where you learn the Most of them have been intro- their country of nationality, others language, make meaningful friend- duced to the space and, thanks to the painted objects, flowers and pictures ships and have the space you live in. BRIDGES project, that were important to them. In any case, all participants were very enthu- Now the question siastic to be part of the activity and to arises, especially for leave something of themselves on the unaccompanied minors, walls of the Ginger Zone. They could where to go. Most of paint, take pictures and make new them are boys running friends. from one course to an- other, trying to learn and grow as quickly as possible in order to

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 33 After the Lockdown

At a time when the situation seemed to have RESOCIALI­SATION improved and national measures were some- what relaxed, Mr Cospe AT A SOCIAL organised a second se- ries of film events at the SMS (Mutual Aid Society) DISTANCE of Rifredi in Florence in September. The event The current state of emergency brought together chil- has changed the habits of young and dren and young people old and prohibits social interaction aged between 11 and 14 from the same the first event in February, where par- with friends, family members and col- neighbourhood to watch a film in the ticipants danced and chatted with their leagues. Although it is hard for every- original language and consume food, friends, ate popcorn while watching one, it is mainly the youngest who suf- drinks and snacks accessible to all. the film, and were simply their young, fer most from distance learning and The purpose of the evening was happy, energetic selves. lack of social interaction because they to create a safe space of socialisation The challenges of this time are many cannot spend time with peers. for the participants and to help them and varied, but as part of the BRIDGES overcome the fear of social contact project we are committed to helping that the global pandemic the youngest and their families. brought with it. While the atmosphere was positive, it was very different from

34 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT PERSONAL STORIES

Gardezi Syed Anyan Ali arrived in Thessaloniki as GARDEZI SYED ANYAN ALI a refugee, and felt imme- diately comfortable with the city and the local com- A PERSONAL STORY munity – BRIDGES works

Hi,

I am Gardezi Syed Anyan Ali, but everybody calls me I was involved in another project previously and I have with my nick name, Ali-Shahgy. I am 27 years old, and participated in a workshop about social media at the or- I am from Kashmir, a region situated in the extreme ganization United Societies of Balkans, and I volunteered Nord-west area of India and historically contended by at the Green Wave Festival. In the beginning, I was not India and Pakistan. The big support in Thessaloniki interested in the activities since I thought it would not be helps me to work out the idea to start a new life in a useful for me and that I was wasting my time. However, foreign country with a different culture and language, I continued to participate, and suddenly, I realized that I even if sometimes I feel my heart and mind are still back was learning new things such as taking pictures, writing in my hometown. articles and working together with other young people. In Thessaloniki, I have met Intersos, an NGO, working In November, I will volunteer at the Film festival, and I to sustain groups of disadvantaged people. They as- am very excited about participating in this event. signed me a social worker and a psychologist to help me Now that, the activities that I have participated are get integrated. They assist me daily, making me express almost finished, I am ready to participate in new project my feelings and thoughts and speaking about my past and to give to my community! I would recommend it also and present life in the city. Their support helps me to to my friends and other young immigrants and refugee, work out the idea to start a new life in a foreign country living in the same condition as me because the experi- with a different culture and language, even if sometimes ence gave me something to work on during those days. I I feel my heart and mind are still back in my hometown. would like to be involved again in future programs since They help me integrate into the new society, by mak- during the project I have been very busy, and for the first ing friends and connections, and, informing me about time since I am here, I felt I was doing something good the activities and initiatives, which I can find in the city. for myself and the community. Through Intersos, I have found out about the opportu- nity to take part in European projects.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 35 Personal stories

their problems, if they’ve been THE STORY willing to tell him. He is well known in the meanwhile OF MIKE and loved in the neighbor- Mike Okoh is a 28 years old Nigerian hood. But in man who has been working for 2 years spite of that, on in the underpass of Cure, one of the November 11th, residential districts of Florence. he was assaulted by two people Mike gets up every morning at 6, covered by a except on Sunday. He takes the train hood who kicked from Empoli – where he lives alone in and punched a rented house – to get to Florence. him. From the early morning Mike stays in Mike, helped the tunnel of the underpass – that has by a young writer, was treated at the of the district, to support Mike and to been elected the reign of the city’s drugstore of the district and then, refuse violence, reacting in a wonder- street art – talking with the passengers accompanied by COSPE, he went to ful way to the assault in the underpass and selling his goods. the police station to report what hap- and showing a big heart and solidarity. Mike, who pays 300 Euros rent in pened. The answer of the neighbor- Mike’s story in Florence is a story of Empoli, can afford to live modestly sell- hood’s community to the racist aggres- almost accomplished welcome but also ing tissues and lighters from 7 am to 2 sion arrived quickly with messages of of refusal and hate, and it tells us how pm. He gets away from the underpass support. important and necessary it is to create only to attend Italian lessons for five Many people went to visit him after a network between the citizens, the in- months now, which are improving his what happened and, thanks to some stitutions and the civil society, so that linguistic competences very much. local organizations a pacific protest we can built BRIDGES and not walls. Mike talks to everyone he meets was organized a few weeks later, with while working and he remembers workshops for children, writer’s perfor- perfectly their names, their jobs and mances and dances in the main square

36 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT Conclusion

discovered wonderful things about noticed before. According to the young other cultures,” Mahamadou said in volunteer, the added value of the pro- NOBODY FEELS an interview with AiCS. “The children’s ject lies in getting to know each other, carnival and its games from all conti- but also in the awareness of different nents have given me the most. Nobody cultures: discovering – in Mahamadou’s EXCLUDED felt excluded, neither young nor old. words – “wonderful things”. I person- BRIDGES enabled me to enrich my ally learned how to organize such an How the EU BRIDGES project general knowledge about many things event. It was a great experience”. changed the life of Mahamadou I didn’t know before. Of the events in Florence, “Games from all continents” Mahamadou is 24 years old, comes was the one I liked best. The partici- from Mali and now lives and studies in pants were happy to participate in a Florence. The Italian CSIT member AiCS game that excludes no one, regard- proposed him to join the European less of age”. project BRIDGES against racism and But the changes promoted by xenophobia. From the outset he has the project, says Mahamadou, are been actively involved as a volunteer not just private. “The children had in the organization of BRIDGES events fun and they were curious when which aim to promote social cohesion we would organize a similar event in the community between the various again. A sign of mutual curiosity multi-ethnic realities of District 5 of and a sense of well-being that had Florence through culture and sport and not been work. Mahamadou is the first to report on the positive impact of the project, which has helped him to get to know his “neighbours” and develop his cul- tural background. “BRIDGES has en- riched me, my culture has grown, and I have

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 37 Conclusion

one thousand people took part in the “Richness and knowledge of different project for social cohesion in District cultures: today we are more open and NO TO RACISM – 5 of Florence. One third of them were patient”, third country nationals. 57 organiza- In Florence, BRIDGES was able to tions, including sports, cultural and convince more than 40 associations – YES TO volunteer associations, publicly spoke nine of them migrants – to participate out against all forms of discrimination. actively in its public events on social cohesion. In District 5, people from INCLUSION In the multiethnic District 5 of over 20 different nationalities took Florence, the BRIDGES project is part in a wide range of activities. The The EU’s BRIDGES project was very just over, yet it does not seem: the associations that make up the BRIDGES successful in terms of participation “network” has remained within the network co-organized and co-adminis- in District 5 of Florence. “What has people and associations involved, a tered seven public events that brought been built here will become a refer- true friendship that will turn into new together different cultures with differ- ence point for everyone”, agreed events and workshops that will be built ent approaches. Education Councillor Funaro and together with the objective of fostering The active participation in the Welfare Councillor Vannucci. District real community cohesion. These plans organization and staging of sports 5 President Balli added: “Through come from the participants themselves events, cultural activities and seminars this project, different cultures, ter- who have been involved in recent has made it possible to deepen mutual ritories and peoples can get to know months in the European project aimed knowledge. Moreover, the project did each other: BRIDGES has become an at breaking down social barriers and not stop during the long months of the important hub for promoting inclusive racism. A month after the end of the Covid-19 lockdown. On the contrary: practices in the neighborhood.” Over events, volunteers and operators met in social networks, the volunteers and to tell each representatives of the BRIDGES net- other what work spoke about themselves in ten “BRIDGES” video interviews and described the has left in changes the project has brought about their lives. in the community.

38 | EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT Conclusion

of District 5, video of the project. Here the leading Cristiano Balli, role of the associations of the BRIDGES stated in his network was again emphasized. The speech: “Despite organizers of the AiCS community, the Covid-19 coordinated by Alessandra Vannucci, Praise and recognition from the health emergency, BRIDGES has underlined once again the importance highest political authorities achieved its goals in District 5 and in of the BRIDGES network, which was a All the organizations involved took the associations involved: cohesion, complete success. part in the final event, which was pre- intercultural exchange and building sented by project coordinator Valeria networks of relationships”. Gherardini. Education Councillor Sara Cosimo Renzi (AiCS Project Office) Funaro emphasized in her introduction: presented the results of the 22 months “BRIDGES is a joint project that aims to of activity of the project together with create stable networks between the the official final different actors in the area”. Funaro and Social Councillor Andrea Vannucci added: “With this project we have commit- ted ourselves to promoting the involvement of communities of third country nationals by sup- porting their leadership role. We will work to ensure that everything built and developed this year becomes a reference point for citizens”. The President

A “BRIDGE” BETWEEN PEOPLE: THE NETWORK BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND ASSOCIATIONS REMAINS AFTER THE BRIDGES PROJECT ENDS

BRIDGES was started at the end of 2019 in the District 5 of Florence and it was able to involve over 40 associations in the organisation – “democratic”, Annalisa says – of cultural, sport and voluntary events that enable people and cultures to know in depth each other. “In my opinion, the most important change was the opportunity to collaborate with other associations and other volunteers: you can achieve much more by carrying out projects together than working alone”, Anna says. In conclusion, the network is the answer. The BRIDGES’s legacy in the neighbourhood, that previously expressed a great number of associations, is the teamwork method through which the different entities of the territory now work: the associations can now share a strong network that will lead them to build together other events and other cohesion activities. It’s the mutual knowledge the best recipe to social barriers.

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT | 39 With co-financing from the Fund of Asylum, Migration and Integration of the European Union

EUROPEAN UNION BRIDGES PROJECT news

MAMANET as PERMANENT FIXTURE

by Karin Eines, Mamanet

n recent years, Mamanet has THE conferences were held with Mamanet become a permanent fixture not INTERNATIONAL representatives from around the only at CSIT, but in many coun- CROWN world to promote cooperation and tries around the world. Starting TOURNAMENT prepare plans for the day after. Radio in Israel, the women’s move- Mamanet was initiated to provide the Iment has made a very good name for The 3rd International Crown players with important information itself and now serves the good cause Tourna­ment took place in February and to increase their well-being dur- with many actions. Also at the WSG 2020. Over 300 players from Israel ing this difficult time. 2021 in Italy Mamanet teams will be and abroad took part. The tourna- present again and with their positive ment was opened by the Mayor of I AM AWARE attitude they will spread good spirits Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, and the CEO and motivate many women to par- of Hapoel, Yoram Arnstein. The three- In October, the International ticipate. Last year, despite the Corona day tournament promoted the values Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we crisis, Mamanet International again of our tolerance, cooperation and sport organised a breast cancer awareness organised or participated in a large at its best and was a great success. tournament involving 1000 players at number of activities. the Athletic . The tournament MAMANET IN promotes the idea of “playing on the THE FIELD OF field, not with our lives”. ACADEMIC STUDIES MAMANET AGAINST With the course name “Mamanet – ­DOMESTIC ­VIOLENCE Trend reversal in popular sport” two AND VIOLENCE courses were held in the Kibbutzim AGAINST WOMEN seminar for four-year-old students in academic studies of physical edu- Raising awareness of violence cation. This once again emphasised against women and domestic vio- the importance of mass sports for lence was another topic of Mamanet ­mothers and women. International. In lectures and meet- ings on this topic mothers are trained CORONA and sensitised to seek help in their AND RADIO environment and in all general MAMANET conditions and to help women who experience physical, psychological, Although there were no economic and sexual violence. regular training sessions dur- ing the Corona period, Mamanet FAIR PLAY CASE managed to maintain important STUDY contacts with the players and teams through zoom sessions Within the framework of CSIT and zoom training. International WASG 2019, questionnaires were sent

20 | CSITnews news

out for a study investigating the in- Advisory Committee and lecturer at troduction of the Green Card at CSIT the University of Bournemouth in the championships. The results of the UK. Positive behaviour and sporting study were published on the website spirit on and off the . The way of the European Fair Play Movement the Green Card has been assimilated EFPM. Following the study, it was con- in the Mamanet League and its posi- cluded that the Mamanet League is tive impact on fair play should set an implementing the Green Card as part example for all other sports. of its activities and that it is worth- while to carry out further research MAMANET on the impact of the Green Card. SPREADS THE The study was carried out by Steve GOOD IN THE Town, Chairman of EFPM’s Scientific WORLD

Founder and President Ofra Abramovich took part in an online seminar on Olympism and Olympic education in the 21st century and a seminar on promoting sports culture in universities. Olympism is a phi- losophy of life in which sport is at the service of humanity. This philosophy is based on the interaction between the performances of body, will and spirit. Olympism is expressed in ac- tions that combine sport, culture and education.

CSITnews | 21 news

No matter what happens, the SPORT STAYS ALIVE

by Ruth Vázquez Pérez, INDET

AS OF MARCH THIS YEAR, MEXICO ALSO COMPLETELY SUSPENDED ALL SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR MONTHS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. INDET MEXICO ­NEVERTHELESS MANAGED TO DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY TO ­SUPPORT MEXICAN WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN VIRTUAL MODE.

22 | CSITnews NDET created an extensive during the pandemic” and “Emotional measure was implemented, includ- programme with more than 60 health after the lockdown”. ing the Covid-19 screening test for all videos that were exchanged via Sports enthusiasts from more participants. Fortunately, the num- Facebook and Twitter. The main than 12 countries took part in these ber of positive tests was long at less goal was to show routine sports forums, allowing us to keep in touch than 2.2 percent. This successfully Iexercises to stay active at home and connect and to bring the concept averted measures for medical care, during the lockdown. On 21 June we of “Sports for Workers” to more peo- isolation, follow-up with a second even called for a live virtual race to ple in America. test and the supervised departure celebrate Father’s Day on Facebook. But the biggest concern and chal- from the venue. With the same concept, INDET lenge for INDET Mexico in this dif- We are aware of this: Sport will launched an important programme ficult time was the celebration of the help us in the “new normality” when of virtual multi-sport conferences in 48th National Sports and Recreational the Covid-19 pandemic is brought un- July, August and September, with rec- Games for Workers, from 8 to 12 No­ der control. With good safety meas- ognised and widely known speakers, vember. More than 800 athletes from ures we can continue to promote and including those with an Olympic past all over Mexico participated in the support both the physical and mental and experience. This included topics disciplines of athletics, basketball, health of workers. More than ever. such as sports administration, bas- , chess, football, swimming, INDET Mexico is together with ketball, indoor sports and beach vol- beach volleyball and volleyball. the champions of the 48th National leyball, modern football techniques, The National Workers’ Games Workers’ Games ready for the 7th leisure activities at work, fireball were only possible due to the support CSIT World Sports Games. See you extreme challenge and walk & race. of the Mexican Social Security IMSS. very soon in Cervia, Italy! Very special topics were “Disinfection A comprehensive health and safety

CSITnews | 23 news

10 years KWSF A Special Anniversary

A historical Story by Ismail Sadiku, President of the Kosovo Workers Sport Federation

WHILE YOU ARE WORKING ON MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE, DESPITE ALL THE OBSTACLES ON THE WAY, THERE COMES A MOMENT WHEN IT BECOMES REALITY. AS ALBANIANS WE HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME DIFFICULT CHALLENGES THROUGH- OUT OUR HISTORY, AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR PAST. ESPECIALLY THE TIME IN THE LAST DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST ­CENTURY WHEN WE STARTED OUR JOURNEY TO FREEDOM.

he difficulties our nation matters into their own hands and grip of the occupiers in June 1999. was going through inevita- started to organise sports events. Sports life began to flourish. bly had a negative impact We played in improvised squares, on There were competitions of all kinds on sport. Our enemies meadows and muddy fields, but we in various sports disciplines and, wanted to stifle all hope did not stop because we wanted to above all, there was a special section Tfor future generations! They tried make our dream come true. that nobody had thought of: recrea- to disrupt normal life and prevent During our struggle for survival, it tional sports for workers. For years our youth from participating in any was considered a luxury to think of I kept this idea to myself. Until 2009 sporting discipline. leisure activities. But then a miracle it remained in my head only as an But nothing could break the spirit happened. The general social mobi- unfulfilled dream. Finally, in 2009, of Albanian sports lovers. So, at the lisation in the 1990-1999 brought the I shared this idea with some sports beginning of the last decade of the nations of the progressive world to lovers, and they liked it. 20th century, the generation of sports- support us in our cause. With their Lovers of some of the biggest in- men and sports fans of that time took support, Kosovo was freed from the stitutions and companies organised

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We registered the reason to celebrate it. In March this Federation with the year we received a reply from the Ministry of Public Services International Federation of Workers and started our first cham- and Amateurs in Sport (CSIT). We pionships on 5 October. In were informed that the Executive 2009-2010 we competed Committee of the Federation had in football and basketball. decided to accept us as a candidate After the 2009 and 2010 member. competitions, our dream of Our dream remains, but it is con- the first meeting on 3 June 2009 participating in international leagues stantly evolving. We want and we will and decided to organise a tourna- continued. In record time, only one do our best to organise an interna- ment in mini-football and basketball and a half years later, in June 2011, tional competition in our country. on 15 June in honour of the Kosovo we took part in the international With as many participants as pos- Constitution, and to appoint a group competitions in Albena, Bulgaria. sible and with the hope that athletes of participants as a coordination We finished third in mini football and from Albania will also participate. group for the establishment of a law- fifth in basketball. It was a great suc- We are proud of our achievements ful mechanism to enable workers to cess for the Kosovo Workers Sports and our vision for the future. If we compete in sport. Later, the founding Federation. might not yet make it, then future assembly designated this as a fed- Since our first appearance at generations will make our dream eration. the international competitions until come true and reach the “Olympus”. The tournament has only today we have taken part in ten dif- strengthened the idea of setting up ferent competitions. On every oc- such a mechanism. Following the casion we competed with athletes evaluation of the organisation of the from all over the world and won tournament, it was decided to pre- cups and medals. However, despite pare all the necessary documents the successes, we did not feel like and convene the founding assembly winners, as there were no athletes by September. As the initiator of the from Albania in these competitions. idea, I was entrusted with this task. We tried as best we could to make After preparing the necessary up for their absence by showing the documents, 19 representatives of Albanian flag, which was always ob- various institutions and compa- jected to by Serbian athletes. nies attended the meeting on 12 In 2020 we celebrated the tenth September and founded the Kosovo anniversary of the founding of Workers Sports Federation (KWSF). our Federation and we have every

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MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO BECOME ACTIVE by Ennio Cornejo Ramírez, ADEPET

The Asociación Deportiva Peruana de sports policy of the national sports taking into account the country’s nat- los Trabajadores (ADEPET) is a non- system is mainly aimed at top ath- ural regions for environmental care; governmental and non-profit organi- letes. Therefore, we are trying to the strengthening of fraternal ties be- sation that brings together workers promote a national solidarity pro- tween almost 33 million inhabitants and amateur sports organisations gramme that will allow workers to in the 24 departments of Peru, who from all over Peru and involves them represent their country in interna- actively cooperate in their provinces in the international “Sport for All” tional events such as the CSIT World and districts with organisations with movement. ADEPET motivates people Sports Games at recreational and similar objectives for the common to become active, to promote a sports competitive level, as well as in cul- good. culture at home, at work and in rec- tural and sports activities. reational areas, to use leisure time Special events productively, to promote a healthy Programmes and plans for 2021 lifestyle through physical activity in The organisation’s programmes On 28 July 2021, the 200th anniver- order to improve their quality of life and activities are based on respect for sary of the proclamation of Peru’s and to encourage the practice of sport and contribution to the United Nations’ independence will be celebrated; for with social integration, respecting fair goals for sustainable development, this reason, the Peruvian Government play and the values of sport. which focus on the quality of health and its regional and local govern- and education for people in their child- ments, in collaboration with private Organization hood, youth and adulthood. Focused organisations, will unite their efforts One of the main objectives of on Equal opportunities without any to save the best of our cultural iden- our ­organization is the promotion form of discrimination on the basis tity and strengthen our civic values of ­amateur sports among Peruvian of gender, age or physical disability; through a series of activities of the workers, considering that the public the sustainability of their cities and “Bicentennial Special Project”. resources,

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ADEPET is planning to use will concentrate on organising the “Bicentenary Seal” to join the virtual training and developing its “Bicentenary Special Project” as an volunteers programme in the first institutional initiative which is coor- half of 2021. Between August and dinated with the “Bicentenary Flags” December, ADEPET is planning to through “Sport for All” to promote organise the “Peru 2021 Bicentennial equal opportunities, dialogue and Cup” with a national table tennis and reconciliation, sustainability, integra- tennis tournament in the city of Lima. tion and competitiveness, and identity Thanks to the Pan-American Games and diversity in Peru. in summer 2019, the Peruvian c­ apital There is a high degree of uncer- has the best sports complexes to tainty about the return of massive bring together the largest number sporting competitions in Peru in of workers from Peru’s 24 depart- 2021 as a result of Covid-19, due to ments under the highest security the authorisations of the Peruvian measures. Government. For this reason, ADEPET

ENNIO CORNEJO RAMÍREZ – FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

The president and founder of the organisation is an amateur sportsman and specialist in sports management and marketing, Ennio Cornejo Ramírez. A Peruvian promoter of the “Sport for All” movement, he has collaborated in recent years in sports events with municipalities, companies, schools, universities, clubs and sports federa- tions, after having led, from one of Peru’s most important educational groups, the image promotion of 16 univer- sity sportsmen and women who participated as Peruvian representatives in the Lima 2019 Pan-American Games. Mr. Ramírez was a two-time of the table tennis tournaments of the Healthy Olympics of the Workers of the Educational Group of San Ignacio de Loyola and was an image bearer as an and worker of the Educational Group, in the launch campaign of the new science of physical activity and sports career of their uni- versity. In November 2020 he took part in the “IOC Young Leaders” programme of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), learning how to research, design, implement and scale a social enterprise that uses the power of sport to help solve an urgent social challenge. With more than 3,000 participants from around the world he competes to be selected as one of 25 IOC Young Leaders who will help the IOC invest in their local sports initiatives and sustain- able social business models. He also received training at the World Forum and Volunteer Leaders Academy of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), at the more than 365 workshops for athletes organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FIA Solidarity Programme as one of the representatives of the Touring and Automobile Club of Peru, the national sports authority of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

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TH SUCCESSFUL IN ITS 5 YEAR by Christina Gschweidl, Mamanet

37 courses per week, a national directly by the Federal Ministry of sports structures. Associations and Mamanet league, acceptance as an Sports. With the main goal of (re)in- organisations are now approaching extraordinary member of “Sport troducing women and their children to Mamanet Austria – not the other way Austria”, support by the Federal sport. It is aimed primarily at women round as in the beginning. Own funds Ministry of Sports, new member of who feel that they do not participate are slowly increasing, and public in- CSIT, nominated as “Place of Respect in sport and/or have difficulties in ac- terest is growing – also in the media. 2020”, workshops, coach training, cessing sport for various reasons. For Mamanet Austria is a showcase new jobs and perspectives, gender, Mamanet Austria, fun, appreciation, project in terms of gender, women integration, inclusion, happy women non-violence and freedom of religion and health promotion and a model for and much more – all this is Mamanet are in the foreground. Regardless of integration and inclusion in organised Austria, despite the Corona crisis. the origin of the women. sport – also internationally. This is The starting signal for Mamanet The creation of perspectives for demonstrated by a pioneering project: in Austria was the first international women – possibly also in connection interested unemployed women with Mamanet conference at the end of with the job – is an essential part of a history of migration and flight who October 2015 in Eilat, Israel, with the concept. Cooperation with sports first come into contact with Mamanet Mamanet founder Ofra Abramovich, umbrella organisations, selected in their refugee homes are supported who has set herself the goal of professional associations, sports as Mamanet trainers. Most of them spreading Mamanet throughout the clubs and social institutions is also now play regularly in weekly courses world. Austria was one of the first promoted. and run their own courses, earning countries to participate. In 2020, Mamanet was very suc- money as trainers. This approach not Since September 2016, Mamanet cessful despite the Corona crisis only gives these women new perspec- Austria has been funded as a project and is now a fixed term in Austrian tives but also a certain independence.

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Numerous trial trainings, work- through emotional in- shops, join-in stations, lectures and terviews, some of which similar events to found further teams were very positive. were fixed until summer 2020. Larger In 2019, a disserta- tournaments, such as the first inter- tion by the University national “I am Aware tournament” in of Vienna confirmed Vienna, however, had to be cancelled the positive effect of due to the corona crisis. The Austrian Mamanet on the crea- National Championships or “I am tion of value in society. A aware”, which draws attention to bachelor thesis 2020 of breast cancer awareness, are already the University of Applied fixed for 2021. Sciences Burgenland During the lockdown, a learn- validated the benefit of ing aid platform was successfully Mamanet as a method of installed for Mamanet children who social group work in the needed help with school issues. After areas of health and integration. the German government relaxed the “It is nice to see how women are regulations in May 2020, the courses strengthened with Mamanet, re- were restarted while taking all nec- gardless of their origin, religion or essary measures, a prevention con- similar. We are on the right path with cept was developed, and a summer Mamanet in Austria”, says Secretary campaign was conducted during the General Sissi Speiser-Havel. summer months. Thanks to the successful coop- eration with the Austrian Company Sports Association (ÖBSV), Mamanet now also reaches the company sports sector. Only recently a cooperation was entered into with the StoP, a neighbourhood project with the aim of preventing and strengthening inti- mate partner violence, domestic vio- lence and (serious) violence against women and children in the districts. Mamanet was introduced to the part- ner organisations, joint campaigns have been planned and already im- plemented.

Through Mamanet, the percentage of women but also of children play- ing sports in Austrian clubs could be significantly increased. This is also confirmed by several evaluations. Mamanet in Austria was evaluated for the first time in 2017 by the Centre for Sports Science at the University of Vienna, where the more than 100-page Abitur thesis confirms the achievement of the objectives, also

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30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EUROPEAN by Walter Sabbioneda, IAAFL

IAAFL – History potent sponsors – the semi-profes- “Gridiron Football” (original name of The International Amateur sional league NFL Europe. But with the ball) flag or touch or tackle foot- IAAFL is stagnating numbers and a big slump ball. American football in schools, an association of AF fans. An inter- in the following decades. colleges, universities, church congre- national non-profit association based The group decided without further gations, neighborhoods and among in Italy with activities worldwide. In ado found an international association friends should become the norm and 2014, former players, coaches, ref- of volunteers to promote the growth one day be a major sport like volley- erees and European AF presidents of American Football. Especially in ball, basketball or rugby. with over 30 years of experience in the new countries to avoid making the Everyone should have the oppor- European American football met to same mistakes there and to support tunity to play this wonderful sport. discuss the development of the sport. the spread and visibility of American Especially those who do not have the The group noted that 14 or 15 coun- Football. The IAAFL was born... means to join a national or interna- tries were already playing in the year tional federation and participate in 2000, and by 2014 the sport was played Goals – We have a dream! the championships, which anyway in more than 70 countries worldwide. We have a dream: Someday, in only about 20 percent of all athletes Today there are already more than 80 every park of every city in the world, do. Just like in all other sports. countries, and the trend is rising. In an American football will fly up and the 80s there was a great growth with a group of boys or girls will play a

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Activities – Daily Business Football as a demonstration sport. In We work together in more than 20 September 2020 the IAAFL organized countries where people are enthusi- a Gridiron Football tournament called astic about FA. Almost every day we “Mediterranean Championship”. succeed in expanding into new coun- Although some non-European teams tries, which give us the opportunity could not participate because of to help them develop FA. We try to Covid-19 restrictions, we saw that spread the FA world in the best pos- tournaments can be played on ama- sible way. We organize player camps, teur level if all corona measures are educate coaches, referees and tech- followed. nical directors and help to establish The IAAFL is constantly engaged national associations and federations. in the fight against the spread of the We organize additional competi- corona virus in its sporting activities, tions parallel to the national champi- whereby all medical protocols are onships to increase the visibility of our strictly adhered to. And we will con- sport and help to create regulations tinue to try to carry out our planned of leagues, championships and tour- activities despite Covid-19, albeit on naments. We help to create leagues a smaller scale. We all hope that this in which low-income teams cannot situation will improve in the near fu- register and participate with the na- ture. tional federation. Such as the LNFAA France. We sponsor national leagues and championships worldwide, such Some links of reference as CRFL/IAAFL in Costa Rica or n www.worldchampionship.cloud AFAP/IAAFL in Paraguay. n www.iaafl.eu Thanks to the support of AICS n www.iaafl.it Italy we have been able to participate in the 6th CSIT World Sports Games in Tortosa in 2019 with American

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WORLDWIDE IN ALL FIVE CONTINENTS by Gerhard Zimmermann, WMF

WMF was officially founded in 1980 and is the only for disabled people, crime prevention, peace promotion umbrella organization of minigolf associations world- and a better sustainable life. wide with continental associations on all five conti- Activities 2019: Among the major highlights were nents. The World Minigolf Sport Federation is also a the World Championships in Zhouzhuang (China) as the member of GAISF (Global Association of International first mini golf World Cup in Asia, the Mini Golf World Sports Federations) and AIMS (Alliance of Independent Championship for the Deaf in Bamberg (Germany) and Recognized Members of Sport), which represents 64 the World Adventure Golf Masters in Kungälv (Sweden). national federations as members and more than 40,000 Last but not least the WMF International Minigolf Speed registered players worldwide. Championships during the CSIT World Sports Games 2019 The members of the WMF organize over 1,500 tour- in Tortosa (Spain) with speed minigolf as a new spectacu- naments every year. World Championships, World Youth lar and media-friendly format in three speed disciplines. Championships, World Championships for the Deaf, Highlights 2020: As in many other sports, unfortunate- Continental Championships for the Youth and General ly several championships had to be cancelled or post- Class every two years and every year the World Adventure poned until next year, also due to the Corona Pandemic: Golf Masters. Minigolf is not just a high-level sport, but the World Youth Championships in Murnau (Germany), a global sports movement that unites generations. It five Continental Championships in Voitsberg (Austria), is a very popular Hamilton (), Accra (Ghana), Chiangmai family and recrea- (Thailand) and North Myrtle Beach (USA) as well as the tional sport that is World Senior Championships in Wanne-Eickel (Germany), played by millions the World Adventure Golf Masters in Gumpoldskirchen of people around (Austria) and the European Champions League Final in the world. WMF Portel (Portugal). takes its social Forecast 2021: The World Fede­ration of Minigolf has responsibility very re-scheduled the postponed events from 2020 and is very seriously and also much looking forward to the second edition of the WMF supports programs International Minigolf Speed Championships during the CSIT World Sports Games 2021 in Emilia Romagna (Italy) again with three speed disciplines. All ama- teurs from the various other participating federations are of course invited to partici- pate in a special promotion event for amateurs. Become a member of our minigolf family with your friends!

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EXPERIENCE THE DANCE WORLD by Davide Gabusi, WDSM

The World Dance Sports Move­ment WDSM is a young satisfied. To achieve this, we use the innovative DANCE Italian movement that aims to unite all amateur dancers, GOLD system, a new method for judging and conducting sport dance technicians and working-class dancers who sports dance competitions based on the evaluation of want to experience the dance world in an open and en- various parameters. With the DANCE GOLD system, the riched way. concept of the competition is completely different: nobody Our goal is to make all amateur dancers, sport dance drops out and everyone is evaluated at the end. technicians and working-class dancers happier and more Due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, we were unfortunately not able to organize and hold any events in 2020. But we have a big goal for 2021. Our plan is to participate in the 2021 World Sports Games, and we are very happy to do so, because through our competitions we will have the opportunity to join the CSIT spirit, make friends and introduce people to our new evaluation method “DANCE GOLD system. For further information please contact Mr Davide Gabusi at [email protected]

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CSIT LOSES A FRIEND AND BIG SUPPORTER

IT IS A SAD MOMENT FOR THE WHOLE CSIT FAMILY. WITH DEEPEST SORROW WE HAVE TO INFORM ALL OUR FRIENDS THAT 2020 CSIT LOST A GREAT FRIEND AND BIG SUPPORTER WITH AKRAM AL-AWADI FROM IRAQ.

President Akram Al-Awadi has passed away

The President of the Irak CSIT member association Iraqi Companies Sport Federation has died of Covid-19

Corona is claiming more and more victims worldwide and is not stopping at the world of sport. It is with great dismay that CSIT must announce the death of one of its friends and companions. The President of our Iraqi member association Iraqi sports community, Mr. Akram Al-Awadi, died of Covid-19 in a hospital in Baghdad on Thursday. The CSIT Online Congress started with a minute of mourning to mark the occasion. The CSIT and its President Bruno Molea convey their sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to their Iraqi friends: “On behalf of all CSIT members, I would like to express my con- dolences on this tragedy. At our Congress, I asked all delegates and CSIT partners to observe a minute’s silence as a gesture of respect to express the grief of Mr. Akram Al-Awadi and the great loss we are experiencing as a worldwide sports movement”. Following the tragic death of its President, the Iraqi Federation decided to suspend all sport- ing activities and to suspend the organisation of sports tournaments and participation in Arab and international meetings for a period of 40 days.

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