Curriculum: Using sport methodology in NFE and youth work for inclusion of different abilities’ youngsters” 

The curriculum “Using sport methodology in NFE and youth work for inclusion of different abilities’ youngsters” is an educational resource for youth trainers and coordinators aiming to educate, support and mentor youth workers and trainers in using sport methodology in non-formal education and youth work with different abilities youngsters, for inclusion and interaction of theirs in their community.

The focus of this curriculum is initially to address the needs of its target group of youth workers who have certain experience in sport work and its methodologies as well as general NFE principles and methodology. The curriculum also addressed the needs of youngsters with disabilities and their inclusion in NFE activities related to sport work. The content of the curriculum comprises of introductory parts (summary of the project, background of the curriculum, and recommendations for future trainers organising similar training courses), detailed training programme with division of sessions for each working day (morning and afternoon structured).

The structure of developed sessions includes practical recommendations, additional resources for reading and materials needed for the implementation. This is done with the purpose of offering a more practical and useful material for youth workers and trainers/educators/peers engaged in youth work.

The specific objectives of the curriculum are:

• To set the basis of the programme as well as create communication between participants in order to know the backgrounds and abilities of each other.
• To share realities and experiences on inclusion on different abilities’ youngsters in our communities and explore similarities and differences between countries through research and discussion.
• To reflect on the concepts of disability and create space for strengthening knowledge with the up-to-date terminology and practices that lead to better understanding the needs of different abilities’ youngsters.
• To advance the knowledge of participants in youth work and NFE methodology as well as strengthen their capacities on inclusion of youngsters with disabilities through interactive exercises and presentations.
• To understand sport methodology and its components as well as its integration in NFE inclusive activities for people with disabilities.
• To motivate participants in creating inclusive sport activities with different abilities’ youngsters through their empowerment in the topic and exploration of historical moments and existing practices.
• To strengthen participants’ knowledge on the mental and physical development and benefits through sport activities as well as highlight the importance of education elements’ integration for inclusive youth sport work.
• To strengthen participants’ competences on the development of aims and objectives for future sport programmes through needs assessment of youngsters with disabilities and relevant aspects supporting their inclusion and learning.
• To understand the importance of mutual and inclusive activities, as well as competence development for all youngsters (mainstream and with disabilities) for inclusive youth sport work programmes.
• To learn about setting inclusive spaces and use practical methods for competence development of participants when working with young people with disabilities in their communities.
• To reflect on and share sport methods and games/outdoor activities from local communities and find ways to adapt them when working with different abilities’ youngsters.
• To identify potential challenges when implementing inclusive sport methods for inclusion and interaction of mixed groups of youngsters with/without disabilities and explore ways of overcoming them.
• To create space for developing new inclusive sport activities for youngsters with/without disabilities, based on the knowledge gained in the programme.
• To reflect on the training course and use different methods to evaluate the programme, support, and overall experience.

The curriculum and the sessions developed are based on the principles and methodology of non-formal education; this comprising of role plays, interactive games, group works, plenary discussion, individual activities, reflective exercises, theoretical input, as well as exchanging of existing realities and practices as a learning technique.

To be eligible for the training course, participants need to fulfil the following criteria:

• Be active youth workers and trainers with education in NFE principles and methodology, (willing to get) involved in inclusive youth work activities; be willing to empower other youth workers and mainstream and marginalised youth through NFE.
• Be able to be fully engage in the training course and for the whole duration of it.
• Be motivated, interest and willingness for follow up actions in local level in order to multiply the gained knowledge.
• Have willingness to create partnerships with other participants coming from different organisations and countries.
• Be above 18 years old and have a satisfactory knowledge of English language to follow the programme.