STELLE D’EUROPA is a Servizio Civile Universale project abroad promoted by OPES in Belgium, with activities taking place in Brussels. The project was created with the aim of strengthening inclusive and socialising activities, with particular attention to sports practice, within the European dimension.

Included in the programme “Insieme nel mondo con OPES”, the project develops in an international and multicultural context where sport, rights, participation, and European citizenship become concrete tools to promote social inclusion, well‑being, and awareness.

Project Objectives

The project aims to increase inclusive and socialising activities, with particular attention to sports practice, within the dimension of the European Union.

In particular, the project seeks to:

• analyse needs, challenges, and opportunities in the local context through research and monitoring activities;
• support the development of local and international social projects, with specific attention to the European dimension;
• promote human and social rights and counter discrimination through awareness‑raising and information activities;
• enhance sport as a tool for social inclusion, well‑being, and psychophysical health;
• implement information campaigns and communication initiatives aimed especially at young people and local communities;
• strengthen digital and social communication to broaden content dissemination and engage new audiences.

Main Activities

The activities planned within STELLE D’EUROPA develop across several levels.

A first area concerns field research, including data collection and cataloguing, support in interpreting results, monitoring activities, and dissemination of the materials produced.

The project also includes support for the development of local and international social projects, with activities related to incoming and outgoing initiatives, support for European project design, contact with stakeholders and local organisations, organisation of meetings and workshops, and logistical and communication support.

Another central area concerns the promotion of rights within the European dimension, through toolkits, thematic campaigns, workshops, training activities, and laboratories dedicated to human rights, social rights, and the fight against discrimination.

The project also includes sports‑promotion activities aimed both at psychophysical health and social well‑being, and at promoting sport as a universal right and a practice of social inclusion. In these activities, volunteers collaborate in organisation, preparation of materials, operational implementation, and monitoring of results.

In addition, information campaigns are planned in the local area, along with communication activities through web portals and social networks, including the production of digital content, articles, interviews, and informational materials aimed especially at young people. Part of the activities is also dedicated to Italians living in Brussels, supporting them in their experience abroad.

Impact on the Territory and Beneficiaries

STELLE D’EUROPA contributes to strengthening the social and inclusive dimension of sport within the European context, promoting spaces for participation, well‑being, and active citizenship.

The project’s impact concerns young people, associations, local stakeholders, and resident communities, who can benefit from training activities, awareness‑raising initiatives, project‑design pathways, and communication actions capable of generating greater awareness on issues of rights, inclusion, and participation.

Through dialogue with the territory and with the European dimension, the project fosters the creation of networks, the strengthening of social cohesion, and a broader dissemination of inclusive and accessible practices. The project also contributes to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Training and Growth Opportunities for Volunteers

For volunteer operators, STELLE D’EUROPA represents a significant growth experience in a dynamic and intercultural European context. The young participants engage in research, project design, organisation of activities, rights promotion, social communication, and support for inclusive sports initiatives.

Throughout the project, volunteers can develop skills in:

• social and European project design;
• organisation of events, workshops, and laboratory activities;
• rights promotion and awareness‑raising on social issues;
• digital, web, and social communication;
• monitoring, feedback collection, and reporting;
• teamwork and cooperation in international contexts.

The experience requires adaptability, responsibility, intercultural openness, and relational skills, while offering a concrete pathway of active citizenship and training oriented toward international solidarity, inclusion, and the creation of more open and participatory European communities.