Innovative Concepts
SPIN develops innovative education and learning concepts that are especially tailored to the fields of sport, health, and youth. We have built a specific set of competencies related to the development of education and training projects and programmes through informal and non-formal learning. This includes a specific communities of practice approach as a new form of collaborative learning.
Sport for Development
Sport has the potential to promote tolerance and mutual respect, and it contributes to the goals of education and health. Used properly, it can be an effective initiator and catalyst for social inclusion. We work with public and private players to better harness the potential of sports for sustainable development. Through strategic consulting and special training of multipliers on site, we support projects in the area of development through sport.
Education through Sport
Sport and play are of great importance when it comes to educating young people. Sport is a key element for developing a healthy lifestyle and it provides a special learning environment. It is an effective and efficient tool for developing cognitive, mental and social competencies. However, to develop its full educational potential, sport must be implemented in a targeted and qualitative manner, based on a solid and sound concept. We have developed a concept for a targeted use of sport as a learning tool with a focus to initiate learning processes of youngsters.
Communities of Practice
SPIN has co-developed the person-centered YANUZ communities of practice approach. It describes COP as a social learning pathway where people commit to improve a common concern around a complex social challenge. And where they interact regularly to learn and to co-create innovative solutions. It supports stakeholders establishing open and eye-level cooperation around complex problems and to facilitate innovation. The approach leads to identifying good practice, shared learning, and innovative ideas of practice-based problem-solving. With this approach, we facilitate building a sense of community and purpose of heterogenous stakeholder groups. This supports shaping new solutions to entrenched problems, tapping into hidden talent and knowledge, and providing space to innovate and embed change.
Project References
Erasmus+ Sport — SPIDER
Designing Local Sport 4 Development Networks (SPIDER)
The potential of sport to empower youngsters is widely acknowledged. Yet, the power of Sport for Development (S4D) for personal skills development of young people can only be fully exploitet if it is provided through coordinated action and consistent messages. It means that we need to work with different stakeholders who all have an immediate impact on the environment, routines and opportunities of young people in their specific context. This includes schools, sports clubs, the municipality, or youth centres. With it, support structures can be better co-ordinated, and education can be better aligned, so that it increases the effectiveness of the S4D approach. Against this background, the SPIDER project supports and aligns S4D activities for youngsters in their immediate social context, which we call Spider Active Neighbourhoods. Visit our SPIDER Website.
Erasmus+ Sport — BASE
Reconnecting Older People to Society for Healthy Lifestyle (BASE)
Across Europe, older people face increasing challenges in maintaining an active and socially connected lifestyle. To improve this situation, BASE is an EU-funded initiative that develops innovative activation and mitigation approaches to support older people in reconnecting with society and enjoying healthier, more active lives. Central to this approach is a peer-to-peer activation logic, which recognises that older people are often best supported by peers who share similar life experiences and local contexts. To learn more about how to be trained as Active Neighbourhood Buddy or Mentor, and how to design an Active Neighbourhood Ecosysstem, visit our BASE Website.
Sport for Development
German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
SPIN supports the German Society for International Cooperation in the field Sport for Development. The GIZ supports the German Federal Government, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, in achieving its goals related to international cooperation towards sustainable development through sport. As part of our cooperation, we develop sport development concepts, carry out local sport development training sessions, and create manuals for sport development practitioners. In the GIZ sector program “Sport for Development in the Palestinian Territories”, SPIN developed approaches to effectively activate and use existing local sports infrastructure for the development goals of the German Government in the Palestinian Territories.
Erasmus+ Sport — BOOST
Boosting Social Impact Through Sports Mentoring (BOOST)
Sport for Social Impact can only be fully harnessed if it is provided by well-governed organisations, and if their programmes are guided by clear educational concepts. Practice shows that sport professionals either lack specific knowledge to design impactful sports programmes, or they lack expertise in setting up appropriate organisational architectures. The BOOST project responds to these challenges by designing a structured capacity building initiative that is aimed at empowering emerging leaders and practitioners in the field of S4SI. Our accelerator and mentoring programme provide personalized guidance to help them design or strengthen initiatives that use sport as a tool for positive social impact. It allows them to connect with inspiring peers, which includes experienced sport professionals who act as their mentors. Visit our BOOST Website.
Erasmus+ Sport — ParaEmpower
Strengthening ParaSports in the Balkan Region (PARAEMPOWER)
Parasport across Europe continues to grow in visibility, professionalism and impact. Yet, continuous professional development structures are still to be improved, which is especially the case in the Balkan Region. The EU-funded ParaEmpower initiative strengthens the capacity of parasport professionals by training both coaches and administrators through a blended learning approach that combines practical guidance, research-based materials, and in-depth training opportunities. With it, the EU co-funded project seeks to combat stigma and social barriers faced by persons with disabilities across the Balkan Region. Visit our ParaEmpower Website.
Communities of Practice
Social Innovation Learning Space Yanuz
Yanuz is an open resource to co-create innovative solutions concerning the complex societal challenges we face today. Our focus lies on establishing a more healthy society. It is an open resource available for anybody who likes to expand their knowledge on how to co-create innovative solutions concerning the complex societal challenges we face today. The complexity-oriented learning space offers applied tools, guiding principles and field-tested practices, together with consulting and training opportunities. It provides community to build and share experiences and an access point towards trusted collaboration and reliable partnerships. A unique feature of the Social Innovation Learning Space Yanuz is its specific focus on the role of education in the process towards social change.
Erasmus+ Sport — QLS4G
European Sport for Social Impact Quality Label (RISE)
We believe in the power of sport to make a positive social impact, and our goal is to give you the support you need to maximise the good your organisation does. The RISE Development Platform helps you to assess the needs of your organisation and gives you the resources required to make progress. Wherever you are on your journey we can help you to maximise the good you do through Sport. We help you to build your organisational structures and to develop impactful sport programmes which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Any size of organisation, from micro to multi-national can use the RISE platform to learn, grow and attain recognition through the RISE Quality Label. Visit our RISE Website.
Education through Sport
German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Within the larger context of United Nation’s led international cooperation for sustainable development, SPIN applies sport as a tool to build capacity in communities, organisations and for individuals. With youth and young adults being the main target group of our education through sport programmes. Our capacity building approach is centered around education, life skills and employability. For example, we developed a practical manual for local life skills coaches for the German Society for International Cooperation. As part of the GIZ project “Kick-off: Sporting activities for Development in Serbia, Kosovo and Albania”, we took over the planning and implementation of on-site training measures.
Our Partners
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