LUBLIN — On October 5, 2023, the vibrant city of Lublin—proudly serving as the European Youth Capital for that year—hosted the annual SALTO Awards ceremony, a premier event celebrating excellence, innovation, and profound social impact across the European youth sector. Amidst an atmosphere of international collaboration and recognition, the Bulgarian Sports Development Association marked a significant milestone as its flagship initiative, the #SMILE project, captured a special honor on the European stage.
Representing the organization as coordinator of the #SMILE initiative, Yoanna Dochevska, chairperson of the association, attended the high-profile ceremony to accept the prestigious accolade in person. The annual SALTO Awards are designed to spotlight outstanding work within the community, aiming to inspire young citizens, key decision-makers, prospective candidates for the Erasmus+ program, and participants in the European Solidarity Corps to strive for a greater, more measurable social impact across the continent.
The 2023 edition of the awards featured a diverse array of categories tailored to address the evolving priorities of the European Union. These included Digital Transformation, Inclusion and Diversity, Participation in Democratic Life, Solidarity and Volunteering, and a newly introduced category focusing on Environment and Climate Change Action. Running parallel to these core areas were special recognitions, most notably the category for Competence Development, which ultimately became the stage for the #SMILE initiative to shine.
Co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, the #SMILE initiative was conceived to explore the powerful intersection of sports and social inclusion in an innovative manner. By opening up international participation opportunities in sporting activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the project has steadily broken down long-standing barriers. Throughout its implementation lifecycle, the dedicated #SMILE project team rolled out a comprehensive series of national and international activities. These efforts not only championed European identity but also fostered the practical development of essential competencies for individuals living with intellectual disabilities in both Bulgaria and Croatia.
These sustained, ground-level efforts ultimately caught the attention of the SALTO 2023 evaluation committee, earning the initiative the special award in the highly competitive “Competence Development” category.
The special category dedicated to Competence Development plays a vital role within the broader framework of European youth policies by supporting lifelong learning and encouraging the deliberate cultivation of skills. It does so by actively engaging a diverse spectrum of stakeholders across the fields of education and youth development. Through this category, SALTO directs public attention toward the transformative impact that European youth programs can have on lifelong learning. The initiative encourages competency development by weaving together the unique perspectives of educators, organizers, and participants alike.
When reviewing submissions for this specific track, the awards jury actively sought out inspiring projects where youth participants, youth workers, organizational representatives, and other vital stakeholders were encouraged to deeply reflect on their educational journeys and personal competency development. The selection committee demonstrated a particular interest in innovative practices and approaches that actively supported robust learning processes, ensuring tangible growth for both young participants and the youth workers guiding them.
The competition for this recognition was intense. Reviewing proposals submitted across all available categories—amounting to roughly 200 distinct projects for the 2023 cycle—the evaluation committee meticulously sifted through initiatives to identify the single program that truly stood out in terms of overall quality, depth of activities, and genuine community impact.
Dick Smit, chairman of the jury for the Competence Development category, elaborated on the committee’s unanimous decision during the evaluation process. He noted that the SMILE project was chosen by the committee because it represents a rare and exemplary model within Europe. Specifically, it is one of the very few initiatives that actively and meaningfully involves individuals with intellectual disabilities in international mobility while providing them with a secure, active platform for comprehensive social inclusion and competency development.
The success of the #SMILE project is deeply rooted in its seamless alignment with the core horizontal objectives of the Erasmus+ program, which provides the financial backbone for the initiative. A foundational priority of Erasmus+ is the absolute guarantee of inclusion and diversity across all spheres of education, training, youth work, and sports. This principle forms the beating heart of the #SMILE project: ensuring that individuals traditionally facing fewer opportunities are given equitable access to international mobility and community engagement.
Furthermore, the project dovetails perfectly with broader European priorities focused on promoting widespread participation in sports and physical activity. Every activity conceptualized and executed under the umbrella of the SMILE project is purposefully geared toward the sustainable, long-term inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in sporting life at local, national, and international levels. By transforming sports from a competitive arena into an accessible tool for social integration, the initiative demonstrates how physical activity can serve as a universal language for empowerment.
The operational success of the initiative is a testament to strong transnational cooperation. #SMILE is jointly executed by the Bulgarian Sports Development Association and the Rijeka Sport Association for People with Disabilities. Both organizations share a steadfast commitment to pioneering opportunities for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, working tirelessly within their respective countries of Bulgaria and Croatia to turn policy ideals into daily realities.
As the initiative continues to build upon its successes, comprehensive information regarding its ongoing framework, activities, and future milestones remains publicly accessible through the official project website at www.inclusivesport.org, ensuring that the lessons learned and best practices developed in Lublin and beyond continue to inspire similar endeavors across Europe.
