TIRANA SOLIDALE is a Servizio Civile Universale project abroad promoted by OPES in Albania, with its operational base in the city of Tirana. The project was created with the aim of promoting the social inclusion of people with disabilities through sports practice, enhancing sport as an educational, relational, and participatory tool.
Included in the programme “Insieme nel mondo con OPES”, the project develops in a context where strengthening inclusive, accessible, and shared opportunities is a fundamental element for the growth of local communities and for the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities.
Project Objectives
The project aims to increase the levels of social inclusion of people with disabilities in the territory of Tirana through sports practice.
In particular, the project’s objectives are to:
- deepen the understanding of exclusion and the needs of people with disabilities in the local context;
- promote inclusive sports events capable of fostering participation, visibility, and community engagement;
- strengthen dialogue among sports organisations, schools, operators, and local stakeholders on the topic of inclusive sport;
- develop mixed sports activities in school, university, and youth contexts;
- promote training, informational, and awareness‑raising moments on sport as a tool for inclusion;
- enhance social communication and information campaigns to spread a more inclusive culture of sports practice.
Main Activities
The activities of TIRANA SOLIDALE are structured across several areas of intervention.
A first area concerns field research, including data collection and analysis, questionnaires, territorial mapping, needs assessment, identification of challenges, and preparation of reports useful for better understanding the local context.
The project then includes the organisation of inclusive sports events for people with disabilities, involving contact with stakeholders and local organisations, preparation of informational and educational materials, logistical support, event promotion, attendance registration, and monitoring of results.
Another important component concerns the organisation of meetings and round tables on inclusive sport and disability, with the aim of fostering dialogue, networking, and awareness among associations, sports organisations, and local communities.
The project also develops mixed sports activities in schools, universities, and youth spaces, promoting the joint participation of young people with and without disabilities and supporting educational pathways based on inclusion, relationships, and equal opportunities.
Alongside these activities, the project includes meetings dedicated to the use of sports practice as a tool for inclusion, training sessions for operators, and actions aimed at building communication and information systems—both printed and digital—to promote activities and strengthen their impact on the territory.
Impact on the Territory and Beneficiaries
TIRANA SOLIDALE contributes to building a more inclusive, accessible, and aware environment, where sports practice becomes a concrete means to counter social exclusion and foster the participation of people with disabilities.
The project’s impact concerns not only the direct beneficiaries of the activities but also schools, sports organisations, operators, families, and local communities, who are encouraged to engage with a vision of sport as a space for relationships, citizenship, and rights.
Through events, workshops, meetings, and information campaigns, the project aims to strengthen the culture of inclusion, promote new territorial networks, and increase awareness of the educational and social value of sport. 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, the project represents an important experience of personal, civic, and professional growth in an international context. The young participants actively contribute to the organisation of inclusive activities, networking with schools and stakeholders, preparation of informational and educational materials, social communication, and activity monitoring.
Throughout the project, volunteers have the opportunity to develop skills in:
- social inclusion and educational project design;
- organisation of inclusive sports events and activities;
- facilitation of meetings and activities with groups and communities;
- social and digital communication;
- data collection, monitoring, and reporting;
- teamwork and cooperation in multicultural contexts.
The experience requires adaptability, responsibility, relational skills, and sensitivity toward inclusion‑related issues, while offering a concrete pathway of learning and active citizenship oriented toward international solidarity and the promotion of rights.