Project Title:
Transforming Stadiums into Educational Hubs for Youth Empowerment and Social Inclusion (LearningArena)
Overview:
LearningArena is an Erasmus+ Sport 2025 Capacity Building initiative (Project No. 101245305), implemented under the ERASMUS-SPORT-2025-CB call and co-funded by the European Union. The project focuses on transforming sports stadiums into innovative non-formal learning environments that promote youth engagement, social inclusion, and civic responsibility in the Western Balkans, specifically in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
By recognizing stadiums as powerful social and cultural spaces, LearningArena introduces a structured educational model that integrates sport, identity, inclusion, and digital literacy. The project addresses a significant gap in non-formal education within sports organizations in the region, where structured educational activities remain limited. Through experiential learning and interactive workshops delivered in stadium settings, the project empowers young people to develop essential life skills and strengthens the educational role of grassroots sport.
Key Objectives:
- Increase the capacity of youth and sport organizations in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro to deliver non-formal education through sport.
- Transform stadiums into accessible learning spaces that foster inclusion, civic participation, and social cohesion.
- Develop and implement three structured educational packages addressing identity, fair play, inclusion, and digital literacy.
- Equip youth coaches and educators with competencies to deliver engaging, values-based learning activities.
- Promote youth empowerment and active participation through sports-based educational models aligned with European values.
Main Activities:
- Development of three educational packages:
- “Sport in My Region, My Country, My Europe”
- “Fair Play – Inclusion and Equal Opportunities”
- “PressRoom – Dealing with Social Media”
- Training of 12 youth coaches to deliver non-formal education in stadium environments.
- Implementation of 36 interactive workshops across partner countries.
- Engagement of at least 540 young participants in stadium-based educational activities.
- Monitoring and evaluation through pre- and post-assessment tools.
- Dissemination of results and educational resources at local, regional, and European levels.
Target Groups:
- Young people aged 14–20, particularly those facing social or economic barriers.
- Youth coaches and educators working within sports organizations.
- Grassroots sport clubs and youth organizations.
- Local communities and stakeholders supporting youth development and inclusion.
Partnership & Coordination:
The project is implemented by a consortium of five organizations from EU and Western Balkan countries:
- Towarzystwo Sportowe Iron Man (Poland) – coordinator
- Shoqata Shqiptare e Shkencave Sportive – ASSA (Albania)
- L’Orma SSD ARL (Italy)
- Physical Activity and Sports Tech for Healthy Lifestyles – PASTECHL (Montenegro)
- Center for Research and Studies in Physical Education, Sport and Health (Kosovo)
Project Duration and Budget:
- Start Date: 1 April 2026
- Duration: 24 months
- Funding Programme: Erasmus+ Sport
- Funding Agency: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
- Grant Amount: €171,542.00
Relevance and Impact:
LearningArena contributes to social inclusion, youth empowerment, and the development of non-formal education through sport in the Western Balkans. By embedding educational activities within stadium environments, the project enhances access to learning opportunities, promotes European values such as fair play and equality, and strengthens the role of sport as a tool for civic engagement. The project supports long-term capacity building of sports organizations and provides a scalable model for integrating education into sports infrastructure across Europe.
Keywords:
Sports-based education; social inclusion; youth empowerment; non-formal learning; stadium-based learning; fair play; digital literacy; civic engagement; grassroots sport