Monaliiku is on the Move to Accelerate Social Inclusion for European-based Migrant Women through Sport with Erasmus+

11.9.2024

Helsinki, 11 September 2024

Monaliiku, a leading force in promoting social inclusion through sports, is pleased to announce that its project, Mentor on the Move, has been selected for Erasmus+ funding. This recognition will enable the project to expand its impact beyond Finland, creating more opportunities for migrant women across Europe to integrate into their new communities through sport-based mentoring.

Mentor on the Move: An Overview

Mentor on the Move was developed to address the challenges migrant women face when integrating into a new society. These challenges include unemployment, language barriers, limited social networks, and health issues. The project pairs migrant women with mentors to meet up in regular meetings that combine conversation with physical exercise. The mentors were selected based on their knowledge and familiarity with the local culture.

Using sports as its core approach, the project leverages the unique power of physical activities to bridge social and cultural gaps. By encouraging the mentors and mentees to discuss their aspirations while engaging in sports, the project promotes mental and physical well-being resulting in the mentees’ personal development and self-agency.

Expanding Across Europe with Erasmus+

With the support from Erasmus+ funding, Monaliiku is set to scale the Mentor on the Move project across Europe. This funding will enable the development of a standardized framework around sport-based mentoring, allowing the project to be replicated in other European countries, such as Belgium, Spain, Greece, and Romania. By equipping organizations and professionals working in sports, migration, and inclusion with this culturally conscious tools, Mentor on the Move seeks to make physical activity and sports more accessible and inclusive for migrant women and other vulnerable groups.

Monaliiku’s Managing Director, Claudia Nystrand, expressed her excitement about this new phase, stating, "This recognition is a huge milestone for Monaliiku, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to create lasting change through Mentor on the Move. We express our profound gratitude to Erasmus+ and our partners. We look forward to collaborating with them and to further empower migrant women across Europe."

A Culturally Conscious Approach to Inclusion

The project will focus on building the capacity of European organizations to implement culturally sensitive and inclusive sports programs, grounded in European values. This approach aims to mitigate the socio-economic factors that put migrant women at risk of exclusion, such as unemployment, low education, and limited access to social networks.

About Monaliiku:

Monaliiku – Wellbeing and Sports for Multicultural Women is an NGO dedicated to promoting social inclusion through sports and well-being activities for migrant women in Finland. The organization seeks to bridge the gap between migrant communities and broader society, using physical activities as a tool for empowerment.

About Erasmus+:

Erasmus+ is a European Union program designed to help people of all ages acquire the skills and qualifications necessary for active participation in society. It fosters understanding across cultures and supports individuals through inclusive education, training, and informal learning opportunities across Europe.