Project title: INCLUDE – Inspired Leaders for Empowered Organizations and Community growth

Project No: 2025-1-ES01-KA210-ADU-000366069

Implementation period: December 30, 2025 – December 29, 2026 (12 months)

Funded by: European Union through the Erasmus+ program

Total budget: 60.000,00 EUR (total partnership)

Partners:

Project description

Through this transnational partnership, Spain and Romania join efforts to build strong and diverse communities, strengthening long-term cooperation between partner organizations. The project aims to train 18 practitioners through a structured professional development programme with a focus on mainstreaming inclusion and diversity in organizational practices.

The objectives of the project are:

  1. Strengthening practitioners’ skills in addressing the diverse needs of vulnerable groups and writing European projects;
  2. Stimulating long-term cooperation between the partner organizations and the network of participating organizations (about 16 organizations from Romania and Spain);
  3. Creating a network of skilled professionals able to sustainably support vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Impact

The project implements three main, progressively structured activities:

Stage 1: Bootcamp “Self-Care and Inclusion”
📅 July 13-16, 2026 (4 days)
📍 Lugo, Spain (hosted by Asociación Lar de Artemis)

A 4-day intensive bootcamp, bringing together 18 practitioners from Romania and Spain, with non-formal, experiential and outdoor methods: role-plays, case studies, reflection and peer learning.

Topics covered:

  • Understanding Inclusion: barriers, stereotypes, effects of exclusion and inclusion; European policies and guidelines (Erasmus+, ECS Inclusion and Diversity Strategy)
  • Dimensions of Diversity: how to integrate diversity in all organizational processes
  • Trauma and Mental Health: focusing on war trauma, forced migration and occupational burnout
  • Resilience and Self-Care: exploring self-care as a social professional to better support others, supportive communities, conflict mediation, and non-violent communication
  • Camino de Santiago: a guided day on the famous medieval pilgrimage route, focusing on resilience and collaboration through direct experience

At the end of the Bootcamp, each participant will put together a Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (D&I Action Plan), developing a concrete project idea for his/her organization.

Stage 2: Team Coaching Program
📅 July-September 2026 (online)

This is where the impact of the Bootcamp doesn’t stop with the participant, but reaches the whole team. While Bootcamp and Hackathon are attended by one representative per organization, the team coaching program actively involves 3-4 colleagues. Together with the dedicated coach, the team will:

  • Set coaching objectives tailored to team needs
  • Review and refine the D&I Plan developed at the Bootcamp
  • Deepen understanding and adoption of inclusive practices at the team level
  • Build internal capacity to integrate inclusive practices into daily programs and operations

Participation in team coaching sessions is a mandatory requirement of the program. The participant must ensure that the team is willing and willing to participate in this development process.

Stage 3: “Innovate for Inclusion & Sustainable Communities” Hackathon
📅 September 28-29, 2026 (2 intensive days)
📍 Romania (hosted by CONCORDIA Academia)

A collaborative space where practitioners apply their knowledge and skills to design concrete project proposals focused on diversity, inclusion and resilience.

The Hackathon includes:

  • Contributions from invited experts
  • Thematic sessions on inclusion, diversity, and resilience
  • Innovative methodologies & tools to stimulate creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, enabling participants to integrate these approaches into their projects and programs
  • Final pitch session: you will learn how to develop and deliver a persuasive pitch, presenting your project idea, receiving feedback from trainers, experts, and peers

The expected impact manifests itself on several levels:

  • Individual: 18 professionals with enhanced skills in inclusion, EU project writing, and innovation;
  • Organizational: at least 16 organizations with operational D&I Action Plans and better-performing internal teams;
  • Systemic: project ideas generated in the programme, new transnational collaborations, and multiplied impact in organizations and communities.

Call for participants – Selection of participants from Romania
Application deadline: May 4, 2026 (7 places available).