Deep Breath
Take a deep breath filled with sport and hope

About the Project

The project “Deep Breath – take a deep breath filled with sport and hope” is implemented within the framework of the Erasmus+ Sport programme by organisations from Poland, Türkiye and North Macedonia. The initiative was created in response to the growing problem of addiction and the need to identify effective methods of supporting people experiencing crisis situations. The project partners recognise that overcoming addiction requires not only professional therapeutic support, but also the rebuilding of social relationships, a sense of personal agency and confidence in one’s own abilities.

Sport and regular physical activity can play a unique role in this process. They help develop self-discipline, perseverance, stress-management skills and positive relationships with others. The project seeks to harness these values to support individuals at risk of addiction, people recovering from substance abuse and those facing social exclusion.

A special role within the project is played by activities implemented by the Busola association for the education of the socially excluded for individuals deprived of liberty. In prison settings, addiction is one of the most common factors hindering successful social reintegration. Therefore, sport becomes not only a form of meaningful leisure activity but also an important element of rehabilitation and preparation for life after release.

Project Objectives

The main objective of the project is to promote healthy lifestyles and support the rehabilitation and social integration of people at risk of addiction through the use of sport as an educational and social tool.

The project aims to increase the participation of vulnerable groups in regular physical activity while developing their social competences, including teamwork, responsibility, communication and cooperation skills. Another important objective is to strengthen participants’ motivation to change their lifestyles and improve their self-esteem and self-confidence.

A second key area of the project focuses on enhancing the competences of educators working with socially excluded or disadvantaged groups. Through the project, they will gain the knowledge and practical skills necessary to design and deliver safe, effective and supportive sport-based activities that contribute to recovery and social reintegration. The project also seeks to establish sustainable partnerships between sport, education and social support organisations, while creating an international cooperation network that will enable the continuation and expansion of project activities beyond its lifetime.

Project Activities

The project includes a wide range of activities implemented simultaneously in all partner countries. The first stage focuses on preparing educators to work effectively with people at the risk of addiction. Training activities will strengthen their communication, psychological and organisational competences and provide them with practical tools for supporting participants through sport.

The next phase involves the implementation of the “Deep Breath” programme, through which participants will regularly engage in sport and physical activities tailored to their individual needs and abilities. These activities will be complemented by integration events, motivational workshops, healthy lifestyle promotion initiatives and personal development activities.

The Busola association for the education of the socially excluded will implement activities involving prisoners participating in educational programmes at Płock Prison. Other project partners will work with young people, women at risk of social exclusion and individuals belonging to groups vulnerable to addiction-related challenges. The project also includes international partner meetings, joint activities promoting the European Week of Sport, local community events and awareness-raising initiatives highlighting the role of sport in addiction recovery and social inclusion.

Project Results

The most important outcome of the project will be the development and testing of a model that uses sport as an effective tool to support individuals at risk of addiction and those in the recovery process. During the implementation period, the partnership will develop recommendations for working with at-risk groups and a collection of good practices based on the experiences of organisations from three different countries.

Another significant result will be the increased capacity of educators and organisations participating in the project. The knowledge and experience gained will enable them to design and implement more effective activities targeting socially excluded and vulnerable groups. An additional outcome will be the creation of an international cooperation network bringing together organisations that use sport as a tool to support rehabilitation, recovery, and social integration processes.

European Dimension of the Project

Addiction is a social challenge present in all European countries. Although support systems differ from one country to another, many of the underlying problems and challenges remain the same. The “Deep Breath” project enables partners to jointly search for effective solutions and exchange experiences across different social, educational and cultural contexts. International cooperation will allow partners to compare methodologies, identify successful practices, and develop recommendations that can be applied by organisations throughout Europe. The project will contribute to building long-term relationships between sport, educational and social organisations while encouraging the development of new international initiatives.

Through the involvement of partners from three countries, participants will have the opportunity to learn about different approaches to working with socially excluded groups, strengthen their intercultural competences and develop a stronger sense of European citizenship. The project promotes Erasmus+ values such as solidarity, cooperation, equal opportunities, active citizenship and social inclusion.

Project Partners

Busola association for the education of the socially excluded (Poland) – Project Coordinator
For many years, Busola has been implementing educational, social and rehabilitation activities for people at risk of social exclusion, particularly individuals deprived of liberty. The organisation has extensive experience in Erasmus+ projects and international initiatives related to prison education, social integration and lifelong learning.

Nova Association for Culture, Arts and Youth (Türkiye)
Nova is a youth organisation dedicated to the social, educational and cultural development of young people. It promotes active citizenship, social participation and youth empowerment through non-formal education and local initiatives.

Cycling Sport Club Association TEAM SOLARIS (North Macedonia)
TEAM SOLARIS is a sports organisation promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity and social inclusion through sport. It has experience working with disadvantaged groups and implementing initiatives that use sport as a tool for personal growth and social development.

Buca Ataturk Spor Lisesi Spor Kulubu (Türkiye)
The club works closely with young people and sports coaches, promoting education through sport, the development of social competences and the use of physical activity as a means of supporting healthy lifestyles and preventing social exclusion.