The European recognition landscape for youth and inclusion initiatives has highlighted a groundbreaking sports project bridging the gap for marginalized communities. The #SMILE initiative—an acronym for Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, and Engagement—has been officially recognized at the prestigious 2023 SALTO Awards, securing a special mention in the Competence Development category. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, the project has garnered widespread attention for its innovative approach to integrating individuals with intellectual disabilities into international sporting environments and fostering lifelong learning across borders.
Established to celebrate excellence, inspire European citizens, and encourage high standards among applicants for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps funding, the SALTO Awards spotlight projects that generate profound societal impacts. The 2023 edition of the awards featured several competitive categories designed to address key European priorities, including Digital Transformation, Inclusion and Diversity, Participation in Democratic Life, Solidarity and Volunteering, and a newly introduced category focusing on the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change. Alongside these primary categories, special mentions—such as the one awarded to the SMILE initiative—were reserved for projects demonstrating exceptional achievement in Competence Development.
The SMILE project team successfully implemented a diverse range of national and international actions throughout Bulgaria and Croatia. These targeted interventions were specifically designed to empower the European identity and foster competence development among people with intellectual disabilities. By leveraging the universal appeal and structure of sport, the initiative ventured beyond conventional methodologies to analyze and strengthen the link between physical activity and social inclusion.
The Special Mention in Competence Development specifically highlights initiatives that champion lifelong learning and support the personal and professional growth of participants through the active engagement of diverse stakeholders. The evaluation committee for the SALTO Awards placed a heavy emphasis on identifying inspirational projects where young people, youth workers, organizational representatives, and other key players are actively encouraged to reflect on their learning journeys. The selection commission carefully evaluated practices and approaches that supported and accompanied the learning processes of participants, looking closely at how programs nurture competence and build confidence.
The success of the SMILE initiative lies in its seamless alignment with the horizontal objectives pursued by the broader Erasmus+ Programme. By championing inclusion and diversity across education, training, youth, and sport, the project serves as a practical demonstration of how highly disadvantaged groups can be meaningfully integrated into international activities. Furthermore, the initiative directly supports the core European priority of encouraging widespread participation in physical activity and sport. Every action implemented by the project team focused on the sustainable involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in sporting activities at the local, national, and international levels.
Behind this successful framework are two dedicated organizations acting as champions of inclusive opportunities in their respective regions: the Bulgarian Sports Development Association and the Rijeka sports association for persons with disabilities. Operating as key drivers of the #BeInclusive movement in Bulgaria and Croatia, these organizations utilized their extensive networks and expertise to design and execute the initiative’s core components. Through their collaborative efforts, participants were provided with unique platforms to develop leadership skills, enhance their motivation, and engage actively within their communities and beyond.
The SALTO Awards continue to serve as a vital benchmark for evaluating the tangible impact of European youth programs on lifelong learning. By honoring initiatives like SMILE, the awards program reinforces the message that competence development is a continuous journey that requires dedicated support structures and inclusive environments. The recognition in the Competence Development category underscores the depth of the learning journey experienced by SMILE participants, proving that sport can serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth, empowerment, and social transformation.
As the project continues to build upon its achievements, the framework and outcomes established by the SMILE initiative offer a compelling model for future European cooperation in inclusive sports. Stakeholders, decision-makers, and youth organizations looking to replicate or learn from these successes can find comprehensive information regarding the initiative, its methodologies, and its ongoing impact by visiting the official project webpage at www.inclusivesport.org.
