On January 16-17, 2025, the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, hosted a key meeting of the DigiLAB Project, a European initiative aimed at promoting the participation of people with disabilities in sports, artistic, and community activities.
The event took place at the Training and Educational Center of the Bulgarian Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (FAPA), a venue dedicated to fostering inclusion through physical activity and adapted sports.
Meeting Objectives
The main goal of this meeting was to present and discuss the training manual chapters, a crucial resource designed to engage individuals with intellectual disabilities in sports activities. Additionally, project partners outlined the next steps for the effective implementation of social inclusion strategies.
Activities Conducted
During the two-day event, several presentations and hands-on activities were carried out, including:
- Presentation of the Bulgarian Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (FAPA).
- Discussion on the educational materials developed within the project framework.
- Training sessions with youth with severe intellectual disabilities and non-verbal participants.
- An art workshop and a sports demonstration at the FAPA gym.
- Presentations on high-performance athletics and sports gymnastics at different venues in Sofia.
Project Partners
DigiLAB is a collaborative effort involving organizations from different countries, all committed to inclusion and youth volunteering:
- Turkish Federation of Sports for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities (TOSSFED) – Turkey (coordinator).
- Association for Equal Opportunities and a Sustainable Future (FESGDER) – Turkey.
- Bulgarian Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (FAPA) – Bulgaria.
- Mil Desires Foundation (FHZ) – Serbia.
- M&M Profuture Training, S.L. – Spain.
About DigiLAB
The DigiLAB Project aims to develop innovative and accessible educational resources to encourage young people and youth organizations to participate in volunteer work. Through various activities, DigiLAB seeks to strengthen active citizenship among youth and enhance collaboration between institutions, ultimately facilitating the social inclusion of people with disabilities in sports, arts, and other community initiatives.
For more information about the project, visit: DigiLAB Project
Contact at: info@digilabproject.com
This meeting in Sofia marked a significant step toward achieving these goals, demonstrating the commitment and collaboration of international partners in promoting inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities in society.
