I Play, I Belong, I Lead, I Thrive: Improving the Lives and Prospects of Migrant and Refugee Girls through Sport

forthcoming

The I Play, I Belong, I Lead (IPIB) project is a transnational initiative that leverages sport as a tool for social inclusion, empowerment, and leadership development among girls aged 10-21 with a refugee or migrant background. Recognizing the structural barriers these girls face in accessing sports opportunities, IPIB provides safe, structured, and gender-sensitive sports environments that foster a sense of belonging (ages 10-15) and leadership development (ages 16-21). By equipping sports professionals with inclusive coaching methodologies, the project ensures long-term, sustainable change in how sports serve as a vehicle for integration, personal growth, and employability. IPIB is built upon a multidisciplinary approach, combining empirical research, philosophical conceptu analysis, capacity-building for sports professionals, and policy advocacy to address the intersections of gender, migration, and inclusion in sport. It implements the Education Through Sport (ETS) methodology, ensuring that sports activities go beyond physical engagement and become a structured means for identity-building, intercultural dialogue, and leadership cultivation. Through a series of local and international sports activities, professional training programs, and participatory research initiatives, IPIB creates a replicable framework that enhances opportunities for marginalized youth across Europe. OBJECTIVE 1: Promote awareness (visibility and opportunity) and encourage participation in sport activities. OBJECTIVE 2: Conduct in-depth research on the impact of sport participation on girls on sense of belonging and development of female leadership. OBJECTIVE 3: The development of sports professionals and facilitators. OBJECTIVE 4: Foster transnational cooperation and ensure the long-term sustainability and accessbility of these sports activities