🥾 On the trails of the Azores: the first transnational meeting of Trail for a Future

The island of São Miguel, in the heart of the Azores 🌿, hosted the first transnational meeting of the project Trail for a Future (T4F). Organised by the coordinating partner Clube Açoriano de Trail, Triatlo e Turismo (CATTT), the meeting marked a real turning point: the moment when the ideas and strategies developed online finally came to life—on the trails 🗺️.

🌍 Immersed in nature, focused on impact

The meeting took place in the community of Rabo de Peixe, a small town facing complex social challenges 😓 but full of human potential 🌱. Here, participants experienced first-hand how CATTT uses outdoor sports 🏃‍♀️🏞️ as a tool to empower young people and connect them with nature, health and opportunity 💪.

The programme included:

• 🚶‍♂️ Field visits to local trails and training facilities

• 📊 Presentations and good practices from CATTT’s community projects

• 🧩 Participatory workshops on the role of trail sports in youth empowerment

• 🗺️ Strategic planning sessions for the next phases of T4F

• 🗣️ Dialogue with local youth and volunteers

👣 Walking the talk

This was more than just a meeting—it was a lived experience ✨.Participants didn’t just talk about trails; they walked them.They didn’t just discuss inclusion; they met young people whose lives have changed thanks to sport 💬🤝.

Through shared activities, informal talks, and evening reflections 🌅, the group deepened its understanding of what Trail for a Future truly stands for.

🔥 A renewed sense of purpose

Returning from the Azores, each partner brought home not only new ideas and tools 🧰, but also renewed energy ⚡ and clarity 🧭. The visit confirmed the importance of acting locally while thinking globally 🌐.

It reminded everyone that inclusion, empowerment and sustainability don’t happen in the abstract—they begin with people, in places that are often left behind 🏘️❤️.