Judo Rising: Empowering Girls to become Judokas

ongoing

"Judo Rising: Empowering Girls to Become Judokas"" targets low judo participation among rural girls in the Western Balkans (Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia). It aims to create grassroots judo clubs, offering training, mentoring, and access to technical knowledge by connecting rural athletes with urban expertise. Through non-formal education, team-building activities, and outdoor games, the project fosters skill development, gender equality, healthy lifestyles, and social inclusion, empowering girls to break barriers and thrive in judo. To address these disparities, our project will establish rural girls’ experience clubs that offer hands-on judo training, mentorship, and advanced technical know-how. Drawing on elite insights from experts based in Serbia’s capital, the initiative will extend its impact to small communities such as Struga (North Macedonia) and Caglin village (Slavonija, Croatia). The project adopts an innovative methodology that integrates non-formal education (NFE) techniques—including outdoor games, energizers, nature exploration, experiential workshops, focus groups, team-building activities, and peer learning—within informal learning environments. This approach not only develops judo-specific skills like balance, coordination, and safe falling techniques (ukemi) but also enhances soft skills such as self-confidence, discipline, and social inclusion. Implemented in multiple phases (preparation, research, international mobility training, local events, an international judo camp/competition, and dissemination), the project aligns with EU priorities by promoting healthy lifestyles, supporting high-quality sports education, and advancing gender equality. Ultimately, ""Judo Rising"" transforms a recognized challenge into an opportunity for empowerment, community development, and a more inclusive sport culture across the region."