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                 Inclusion and Growth through Volleyball 

                                      S3-Connect 

The S3-Connect project is a non-profit, large-scale sports event planned by FIPAV in 2026 in Rome, Italy. It is designed to redefine volleyball (and other sports) as a tool for developing motor, technical, and social-relational skills. By engaging young people and communities, S3-Connect will play a pivotal role in strengthening sports’ contribution to social development and promoting a healthy, inclusive, and active lifestyle while extending the innovative S3 format and Education Through Sport (ETS)principles throughout Europe. At the core of the initiative lies a strong emphasis on cooperation, inclusion, and ethical values, which are central to the ETS methodology.  

 

Start: 01-11-2025 – End: 01-05-2027 

Project Reference: 101244182 

EU Grant: 450.000 EUR 

Programme: Erasmus+ 

Key Action: ERASMUS-SPORT-2025-SNCESE 

Action Type: ERASMUS-LS 

Start date: 01-11-2025  End date: 30-10-2028 

Project code: 

EU Grant: 797.949,22 EUR  

Programme and Key Action: Erasmus+

Key Action:Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education

Action Type: ERASMUS-LS

Project Partners: 

  1. FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA PALLAVOLO Italy (IT) 
  2. UDRUGA VERE MONTIS Croatia (CRO) 
  3. MÄNTYHARJUN VIRKISTYS RY. Finland (FIN) 
  4. RACING CLUB DE CANNES France (FRA) 
  5. NGO NEST BERLIN EV Germany (GER) 
  6. AETOI THESSALONIKIS Greece (GRE) 
  7. BLAKSAMBAND ISLAND Iceland (ISL) 
  8. ASSOCIACAO DOS PROFISSIONAIS DE EDUCACAO FISICA Portugal (POR) 
  9. FUNDACION RED DEPORTE Y COOPERACION Spain (ESP) 
  10. TURKIYE VOLEYBOL FEDERASYONU Türkiye (TUR)

Project TOPICs: 

  • Education Through Sport (ETS) 
    Social inclusion 
  • Erasmus+ Sport priority of encouraging a healthy lifestyle 
     

TARGET GROUPs 

  • Sport Federations, Organizations, and Associations 
  • Sport Clubs, Grassroots Sport Clubs, Recreational Teams 
  • Sport Staff, Trainers, Coaches, and Physical Educators 
  • Children and Young People 
  • Community Leaders and Educator 
  • Policy Makers and Stakeholders in Sport and Education 
  • Families and Volunteers 

PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES 

  1. Encourage Healthy Lifestyles and Physical Activity Among Youth and Communities 
  2. Promote Social Inclusion Through Sport Event  
  3. Expand the Innovative S3 Event Model and ETS Methodology Across Europe by Establishing a Network of Linked Events 

PROJECT RESULTS 

PR1 

  • Management Plan 
  • Risk & Contingency Protocol 
  • Quality Assurance Plan 

PR2 

  • S3 Manual 
  • Digital, interactive toolkit 
  • PR3 
  • S3-Connect Event 

PR4 

  • Social Impact Report 

PR5 

  • Communication Plan 
  • Website 
    Promo Kit 

PR6 

  • Sustainability and Replication plan 
    Cooperation Agreements 

APPROACH / METHODOLOGY 

1.Holistic Skill Development: S3-Connect transcends traditional sports training by integrating motor, technical, and social-relational skill development, making it a comprehensive learning experience. Participants are not only improving their physical abilities but also developing critical soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. 

2.Strong Focus on Social Inclusion: A key strength of the methodology lies in its inclusive nature, allowing young people from diverse countries, cultures, backgrounds and abilities to participate equally. The emphasis on teamwork and cooperation helps break down social barriers, fostering an environment where respect, empathy, and mutual support thrive. This directly contributes to the objective of using sport as a tool for social inclusion. 

3.Engagement Through Enjoyment: The “fun-first” approach, especially through engaging elements such as the iconic volleyball spike(“schiacciata”), captures the interest of young participants. This enjoyable and dynamic aspect of the game serves as a motivator, ensuring consistent participation and long-term engagement—key factors for encouraging healthy lifestyles. 

4.Educational Value through ETS Methodology: The project is firmly grounded in the Education Through Sport (ETS) methodology, which positions sport as an effective educational tool to foster essential life skills and values. Through ETS, the S3-Connectinitiative integrates core elements such as: 

  • Experiential learning, where participants learn by doing in real-world scenarios. 
  • Active engagement, ensuring participants are involved in meaningful and practical ways. 
  • Development of transversal skills, including leadership, resilience, and adaptability. 
  • Ethical and cultural education, promoting respect, diversity, and inclusion. 

5.Scalability and Versatility:  

While the primary focus is on volleyball, the principles of the S3 model are highly adaptable and can be applied across different sports and activities. This adaptability is a significant strength, allowing the project to expand beyond volleyball and potentially impact a broader audience through dedicated workshops and interdisciplinary collaborations] 

PROJECT ACTIVITIES 

S3-Connect Training Course   

participants: FIPAV, AP  

Attendees: 20  

Duration: 2 days  

Location: Online  

Educational and Inclusive Sport Event  

participants: FIPAV, AP, Stakeholders  

Attendees: 500  

Duration: 1 day  

Location: Rome, Italy  

Local promotional events

N° of participants: AP  

Attendees: 20+  

Location: All AP  

Duration: 1  

Partners Meeting  

N° of participants: FIPAV, AP  

Duration: 1 day  

Attendees: 10+