In June 2024, a remarkable Erasmus+ training course called “Green Playgrounds: Promoting Inclusion and Environmental Awareness through Sports” took place in Paola, Italy. This international training brought together youth workers from across Europe to explore how sports can become a strong tool for promoting inclusion, environmental awareness, and shared European values. The program offered a new way to look at sports—not just as competition or recreation, but as a method for educating young people, connecting communities, and protecting the environment. A youth worker representing the Italian NGO Musikart joined this journey with the hope of bringing change to their own region through knowledge, inspiration, and cooperation.
In many parts of Italy, especially in small towns and underserved communities, sports programs are not always accessible to everyone. Children and teenagers from migrant backgrounds, those with disabilities, or youth facing economic struggles often find it difficult to join or feel welcome in local sports activities. In addition to the inclusion gap, there is a growing need to make environmental responsibility a bigger part of daily life. While Italy has made progress in green policies and education, young people are still looking for more hands-on and creative ways to connect with sustainability in their own neighborhoods. Before joining the Erasmus+ course, the team at Musikart was already working with young people through music and art, but they wanted to do more. They were looking for a way to combine physical activity, environmental education, and inclusive practices into a single, powerful program.
Arriving in Paola, the atmosphere was full of energy and purpose. The youth worker from Musikart quickly saw that this training was different from others. It was not based on lectures but on action, participation, and exchange. The first powerful moment was seeing how simple games could be adapted to include everyone, no matter their physical ability, cultural background, or level of experience. One activity focused on teamwork challenges where each participant had to work with someone from another country. These games didn’t only help people bond—they also taught trust, communication, and openness to difference. It became clear that sport is more than movement. It is a language of cooperation and empathy.
Another turning point came during sessions focused on linking sports to environmental education. One outdoor activity asked participants to complete a series of tasks that represented real-world environmental problems, such as pollution, waste, and climate change. These tasks included collecting recyclable materials while racing, avoiding “polluted zones,” and creating green strategies as a team. It was both fun and educational. The creative way that learning was mixed with movement left a deep impression. Local community projects in Paola also inspired many. One example was a small neighborhood football club that involved parents and children in cleaning the park before playing matches. These community efforts showed how civic responsibility can grow from simple actions.
After returning home to Italy, the youth worker from Musikart knew they had to do something meaningful with what they had experienced. Together with the NGO’s team, they designed a new project called “Gioca Verde,” which means “Play Green.” The idea was to bring inclusive and environmentally focused sports activities to local schools and youth centers in the region. The sessions included cooperative games, nature-based challenges, and group reflections on values like respect, equality, and responsibility. The aim was not only to get children moving but also to help them think, care, and act differently.
One of the first activities took place at a community park in a small village. The team invited children from different cultural backgrounds and involved youth with disabilities, local volunteers, and even grandparents. The event included games that taught about recycling and nature conservation while also building trust and friendships between participants. Feedback from the children was full of joy and surprise. Many said they had never learned about the environment in such an active and fun way. Parents thanked the team for organizing something that welcomed every child, no matter who they were or where they came from.
As the weeks went by, “Gioca Verde” began to grow. Schools started asking for workshops, and some teachers decided to include the program in their annual outdoor activities. The municipality noticed the growing interest and offered logistical support for public spaces. The youth worker also organized a mini-festival at the end of the summer, bringing together young people from different towns to celebrate inclusion, sport, and sustainability. It included team challenges, storytelling workshops, and a small exhibition made from recycled materials collected during the games.
The impact of this work became clear in many ways. Children who were shy or had never played with others before started to participate and lead. Teachers reported better cooperation among students in class. Parents began asking how to include more sustainable practices at home. Some youth even started their own small initiatives, like a clean-up day in their neighborhood or organizing inclusive football matches. The training in Paola gave the youth worker the tools, but the real transformation happened when young people themselves took ownership and started to create change from the ground up.
What stands out most is how the power of sports and environmental action can be combined in simple, creative ways. In Italy, where football and outdoor games are part of the culture, connecting those traditions with modern values like inclusion and sustainability feels natural. It creates a bridge between the past and the future, where young people are not just players but leaders, innovators, and community builders.
As the project continues to grow, Musikart plans to expand its work by creating an open-source toolkit that other educators and youth workers in Italy can use. This will include game ideas, tips for making activities inclusive, and environmental education methods adapted to local needs. There are also plans to connect with youth groups in other regions of Italy and abroad to create a network of “green playgrounds” where ideas and experiences can be shared.
Looking back, the training in Paola was more than a week-long event. It was the beginning of a movement that continues to touch lives. The youth worker from Musikart now feels more confident, better connected, and full of hope. The Erasmus+ experience showed that even the smallest steps—like a game in a park—can open the way to something much bigger. With passion, teamwork, and belief in young people, change is always possible.
In the end, youth are not just the future. They are the present, ready to act, lead, and inspire. When they are given the right tools, space, and support, they turn every playground into a place of growth, unity, and hope. With projects like “Gioca Verde,” a more inclusive and sustainable Italy is already taking shape, one game at a time.