MUNICIPALITY OF HERAKLION

The main goal of the program is the integration of refugees in society with their participation in sports activities which are already implemented in the sports centers of the Municipality of Heraklion by their sports organizations, sports clubs or individuals.

Promoting the social integration of refugees in a European country through the social and intercultural interaction offered by joint sporting activities, thus contributing to equal treatment and opportunities for all people in a non-discriminatory society.

At the same time, it seeks to address issues of racism & xenophobia, through joint entertainment activities and improving the athletic skills of the participants.

Beneficiaries of the program are all immigrants or refugees who have joined the social structures of the city, and are legally in it. Beneficiaries can be both children and adults, regardless of their religion, origin or language and experience in sports.

12 months.

The program essentially does not create new autonomous sports activities only for refugees, but offers the opportunity to the beneficiaries depending on their age and interests to join sports activities in their daily lives and enjoy the same benefits as other citizens of Heraklion. In addition, it creates and implements new sports activities to acquaint refugees with citizens who have similar interests in sports, physical activity and health-wellness.

Department of European Programs, Directorate of Planning, Organization & Informatics, Municipality of Heraklion (staff)
Development of Crete SA Implementing Agency of the UNHCR program in Crete "Accommodation of asylum seekers in Crete" (staff and interpreters),
Directorate of Social Welfare of the Municipality of Heraklion (staff)
Heraklion Sports Development SA OTA (staff of sports centers)
Educational Development "Navigator"

Athletic institutions of the city (staff, gymnasts) (AS HERAKLION RHYTHMOS ATHLISI, AS MINOAS, AS ATHLODRASI, Athletic Cultural Association of Heraklion "PEGASUS")

The administrative territory of the Municipality of Heraklion.

The participants (113 refugees) in the FIT FOR ALL program had the opportunity to attend for free any program offered by the Municipality of Heraklion, in the municipal sports centers of the city. In addition, they had the opportunity to attend sports programs, in sports clubs hosted in the municipal Sports Centers of Heraklion that support the program. In addition to attending the programs implemented in the municipal sports centers, the participants of the program had the opportunity to watch any other sporting activity implemented in the city of Heraklion by the Deputy Mayor of Sports during this period such as the daily Village Camp, the Indoor Summer CAMP New Indoor Gym of Heraklion and many other sports activities organized by the Municipality of Heraklion with other institutions of the city. Also within the program, all participants in it, received sports equipment, which would include: sports bag, tracksuit, sports shirt, towel, raincoat and Jockey hat. Finally, the participants in the program were given free tickets of the urban KTEL, for their transportation from their places of residence to the sports centers.

Implemented:

Sports events and festivals with the participation of refugees which benefited both the society and the participants.
Tournaments with mixed groups (citizens and refugees) achieving social and intercultural interaction.
Programs with an intercultural nature, such as traditional dances and sports.
Daily mixed sports programs for all ages and genders.
Pedagogical interdisciplinary games that combine sports activities and other topics, such as nature, culture, nutrition.

The project contributed in a very positive way to the better networking of the beneficiaries of the program with the local sports bodies as well as to their familiarity with the public transport network and the health structures. He also played an important role in strengthening the ties between them but also in creating channels of communication and acquaintance with the citizens of Heraklion. In addition, throughout the implementation of the project, it was clear that the participation of refugees in the sports activities of FIT FOR ALL was a healthy way of relieving the pressure and stress caused by the radical changes they have experienced in the past.

Specifically, the goals that have been achieved are the following:

Increasing social cohesion through the participation of citizens and refugees in joint sports and cultural activities.
Tackling racism and gender discrimination in the local community.
Liaison between sport, health and safety, culture and nature in the general context of a multicultural approach, promoting respect for individual needs without discrimination.
Networking and exchange of knowledge and skills in the context of a new approach to sports, at a critical time during which the island of Crete and the Municipality of Heraklion must host a significant number of refugees and asylum seekers, ensuring their smooth integration into local communities without disrupting social cohesion.
Raising public awareness of the role and contribution of sport to social inclusion and equal opportunities.
Strengthening the cooperation between the municipal authorities and the local sports bodies.
Raising public awareness on the refugee issue through the dissemination of implemented results.

Implementation of innovative integration methods and strengthening of the sports culture for both the citizens and the refugees.

Award of the Municipality of Heraklion by UNESCO (3rd place) with the international award "Learning City Awards 2019 - The cities that learn" among 223 cities from 51 countries that were evaluated. The award of the Municipality of Heraklion is due to the innovative way in which it brought together citizens and immigrants, promoting equality and social cohesion through sports and educational programs, such as FIT FOR ALL but also the overall approach of the Municipality in its field. lifelong learning, through which cooperation between all social partners is promoted and strong networks are created both at international and local level (UNESCO).