ISLANDS SUMMARY
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Coordinator
🇮🇹 ITALY: ADS ADELANTE
ASD Adelante is a sports association based in the heart of Sardinia, founded in 2013 by international-level athletes Silvia Farigu and Christian Oriolani. Over the years, the association has become an important local reference point for ITF Taekwon-Do and kickboxing, while also promoting inclusion, respect, personal growth and psycho-physical wellbeing.
Beyond martial arts, ASD Adelante connects sport with Sardinian cultural identity, integrating local traditions and community-based activities into its educational approach. The association collaborates with the Municipality of Capoterra and nearby municipalities to organise sports events, women’s self-defence courses, school activities, programmes for older adults and environmental awareness initiatives.
Operating in a territory affected by social and environmental challenges such as water scarcity, soil erosion, waste management and climate change, ASD Adelante uses sport as a tool to strengthen participation, community engagement and ecological responsibility.
Partners
🇵🇹 PORTUGAL: CATTT
Clube Açoriano de Trail, Triatlo e Turismo (CATTT) is a sports association based in São Miguel, in the Azores, active in the fields of outdoor sport, sustainable tourism and environmental protection. Deeply rooted in the local community, CATTT has organised many socio-sporting events over the years and has become a key reference point for adventure sports in the region.
The club promotes trail running, triathlon, swimming and endurance events, while also encouraging respectful and sustainable use of the unique natural environment of the Azores. Through cooperation with local authorities and environmental organisations, CATTT raises awareness among residents and visitors about nature conservation and responsible tourism.
CATTT is also active at European level through Erasmus+ Sport projects. It is a partner in the WOOF project, focused on helping young people in São Miguel learn how to organise outdoor events, and coordinator of Trail 4 Future, a project dedicated to the professionalisation of the outdoor sport sector.
🇪🇸 SPAIN: BALEAR
The Asociación Balear de Taekwon-Do was founded in 2017 in the Balearic Islands with the aim of promoting Taekwon-Do as a discipline for physical training, personal development and community growth. Through regular training sessions led by qualified instructors, the association offers young people and adults a safe and motivating environment where they can develop discipline, confidence and resilience.
Located in one of Europe’s most famous tourist destinations, the association is also strongly committed to sustainable tourism, environmental protection and social inclusion. Its activities are open to people from different backgrounds and abilities, making Taekwon-Do an accessible and welcoming practice for the local community.
In recent years, the association has developed self-funded sustainability initiatives involving young members, including environmental workshops, beach clean-ups and meetings with local authorities and experts. Through these actions, it shows how sport can raise awareness and mobilise communities to protect Ibiza’s natural heritage.
THE ISLANDS
"ISLANDS: Inclusive Sports 4 Locals and Nature Development Strategies" aims to promote sports participation and active citizenship by empowering sports associations in remote and isolated areas. Coordinated by ASD ADELANTE, the project addresses environmental and social challenges while fostering inclusion for underrepresented groups. By leveraging the role of sports associations as agents of change, ISLANDS promotes community cohesion, sustainable practices, and innovative approaches to increase sports participation.
The project focuses on raising awareness of environmental and social challenges in remote contexts, training sports instructors as community leaders, and developing replicable tools to enhance sports engagement. It introduces innovative educational materials, community events, and sustainable sports practices to inspire a cultural shift towards environmental stewardship and social inclusion.
ISLANDS creates a transnational network of sports associations from Sardinia (Italy), Ibiza (Spain), and Azores (Portugal), sharing knowledge and best practices to address common challenges such as environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and sports accessibility. The project fosters international cooperation, strengthens community resilience, and contributes to EU priorities on inclusion, diversity, environmental sustainability, and active citizenship.
By promoting the role of sports as a tool for education, inclusion, and environmental awareness, ISLANDS aims to inspire a new model of community-based sports initiatives, creating a positive and lasting impact on remote and isolated European communities.
ISLANDS STORYTELLING
BLOG
ISLANDS RESULTS
OUTPUT 1. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN REMOTE AND ISOLATED CONTEXTS, INCLUDING ISLANDS
Environmental challenges in remote and isolated contexts, including islands:
biodiversity conservation;
water resource management;
the impact of tourism;
sustainable agricultural practices.
Social challenges in remote and isolated contexts, including islands:
unemployment and job insecurity;
isolation and lack of infrastructure;
training and education opportunities;
cultural and linguistic integration;
social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable groups;
political participation and civic empowerment.
OUTPUT 2. SPORT, DIVERSITY AND IMPACT
Educating for diversity.
The importance of diversity education within the sports context, aiming to provide participants with the tools and knowledge to create inclusive and respectful sports environments.
The social role of sports associations and their impact on the community.
The significant role that sports associations play in society, emphasizing how they can positively influence their local community.
Instructors: agents of change.
Strengthening the role of sports instructors as leaders and agents of change within their communities, highlighting how they can use sport as a tool to promote positive social change.
OUTPUT 5. ISLAND ALLIANCE
It represents one of the key results of the ISLANDS project: an inter-island network connecting sports associations, local authorities, and stakeholders interested in promoting sport as a driver for social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and community development. The main goal of this activity is to create a long-term collaborative platform for the islands involved in the project and for other insular or remote areas interested.
ISLAND ALLIANCE Manifesto: a document summarizing the mission, values, and objectives of the network.
ISLAND ALLIANCE Webpage: an online space for cooperation, communication, and resource sharing.
Database of good practices and shared material: a collection of tools contributed by network members.
Report on the foundation of the Network: a document describing the founding process, activities carried out, and strategies for future sustainability.