Fostering integration of newly arrived refugees through sport clubs: ENGSO for INAMOS project
INAMOS is a 3-year Erasmus+ initiative which explores the potential of grassroots sport for the inclusion of the newly arrived refugees. The project aimed to connect the European policies with local sport clubs, and research the effectiveness of current strategies for integration of vulnerable groups.
ENGSO has been working on the topic of inclusion and integration of refugees and migrants (in and through sport) for decades, in the past couple of years mostly through projects ASPIRE and SPIRIT, and since 2022 through a “European table for Ukrainian refugees”, a cooperation coordinated by UNHCR. Through INAMOS partnerships, ENGSO contributed to the outcomes by bringing its expertise and experience on inclusion and integration gained through previous projects. We have been part of the team that led an extensive research and comparative analysis of political frameworks regarding conditions, initiatives, programmes or roll-out strategies across different EU member states that foster social integration of newly arrived migrants (NAMs) in Voluntary Sports Clubs.
ENGSO still promotes and raises awareness about INAMOS’ outcomes, with the support of our members and partners, among the relevant stakeholders which are part of the UNHCR European political table for Ukrainian refugees.
ENGSO policy officer and project managers are also actively involved in disseminating the outputs with an aim to support grassroots sport organisations and clubs in implementing the practices developed within the project.
ABOUT INAMOS
Throughout the duration of the project, the partners analysed the integrative policies, goals, resources and activities of the clubs as well as the engagement, attitudes and perceptions of the members and volunteers, particularly the role of important decision makers, all in relation to social integration of refugees.
The project answered the following questions:
- Which policies and strategies already exist in sport based integration for newly arrived migrants?
- How are these policies rolled out to the level of local sports clubs?
- What are the structural characteristics of voluntary sports clubs that affect their ability and willingness for integration?
- How effective are sport-based integration practices?
- How do these practices change the sports club as an organisation?
- Is it possible to generalise the project´s specific findings in order to explain in broader terms how efforts to tackle general societal problems through sport can be incorporated into the practice of voluntary local sports clubs effectively without overburdening or jeopardizing the existing structures of these clubs?
The final outcome, the e-learning module, offers information on the topic of integration of people with a migration background. The six modules were made for sports clubs with the aim to support the management level of sports clubs on this topic with insights and suggestions regarding strategic and operational decisions.
INAMOS e-learning module: https://inamos.org/home/learning/
All outcomes and results of the project, included E-learning modules dedicated to Voluntary Sports Clubs, can be found on the official website: https://inamos.org/home/results
