Hike together

Background Hike Together is a small collaborative partnership sport project with the partnership of Bulgarian Sports Development Association (BSDA), Rijeka Sport's Association (RSS) and Iniziativa Democratica (ID) coordinated by Innovative Education Center (IEC) between 1.1.2020 - 31.12.2021. Project brought together mountain guides and youth workers to share their knowledge and experience and raise awareness of benefits of hiking in nature and use of hiking as a tool for social inclusion of youth in risk. Objectives - To increase the knowledge of organizations on using hiking as a tool for social inclusion for young people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds - to create a network of professionals,- to raise awareness on the added value of hiking and physical activities on the personal, professional and social development of individuals,- to promote access to volunteering in sport; strengthen volunteers skills and increase the management skills of hiking clubs. Implementation Project started with an online Kick-off meeting due to the Covid19 pandemic outbreak. Project managers ad technical experts had the first physical meeting in Rijeka, Croatia (Knowledge laboratory). 3rd TPM held in Sofia, Bulgaria and the Final conference was organized in Italy where project results were presented to project partners and to the local stakeholders. Throughout the project implementation phase, 4 progress meetings were held with the partners. Achievements - 8 local hiking events,- 4 volunteering events by partners and 5 volunteering events by other sport organisations,- 1 international hike in Vitosha mountain,- handbook - tool for youth workers and mountain guides, sport experts and other interested parties supporting planning and implementation of future projects and activities related to hiking in nature,- network of organizations dedicated to the hiking community, transforming into a more welcoming and inclusive space,- website.