The magical city of Zagreb, Croatia, recently hosted the Recovery Project’s third training course. This event, organized by KKK Mladost, held from July 3rd to 4th, was mainly aimed at evaluating the project applications submitted by KKK Mladost and our valued project partner EDRA. These applications were in response to the Erasmus+ Sport call, which closed in March 2023.
Day 1: Learning, Reviewing, and Networking
Day 1 commenced with a comprehensive progress update on the project. Participants received a recap of the content covered in the preceding training courses and were briefed about the plan for future courses. Discussion on dissemination activities, the outcomes from the second training course, and financial components associated with the project enriched the conversations.
In a crucial session, two project applications, integral to the Recovery Project, were carefully evaluated. Mr. Nenad (Borkinson) led the analysis. He meticulously evaluated each application, provided useful feedback, and suggested potential enhancements. Sharing his wealth of knowledge, Nenad also presented evaluation reports from prior project applications, giving participants valuable insights into the evaluation process.
Subsequent discussions centered on the landscape of EU funding opportunities, with a particular focus on how the Erasmus+ sport program fits into the larger structure. The Share Initiative was highlighted for its precise guidance on capitalizing on other EU funding opportunities for sports.
The final segment of the day was dedicated to discussing the technicalities of project management and coordination. Implementation strategies, folder organization, and monitoring and control methods were addressed in accordance with the PCM methodology.
Beyond the intensive learning sessions, the participants got an opportunity to explore the historic center of Zagreb. The day concluded with a delightful dinner at Stari Puntijar, one of Zagreb’s oldest restaurants, where participants savored the local culture in the company of Mr. Nenad’s colleagues and members of the host organization, KKK Mladost.
Day 2: Brainstorming and Future Planning
Day 2 provided a platform for brainstorming innovative project ideas for the upcoming Erasmus+ Sport deadline in 2024. The participants agreed on a collaborative approach to prepare a project application, exploring a diverse range of areas including volunteerism in sports clubs, year-round beach volleyball initiatives involving regional organizations, promoting women’s participation in wrestling, and a kayaking course. An idea to apply for capacity building in sport, centered on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace – the Beach event, was also enthusiastically proposed.
As a follow-up to the third training course, participants will now focus on developing these applications.
The training course was attended by a diverse group of individuals. This included Filip Karamarko and Martina Gosarić from the host organization, KKK Mladost, and project team members Mario Pedro, Filipe Mateus from Sporting club das Caldas, Nenad Borković and Mirjan Košir from Borkinson Consultancy, Judit Dömölki, Eszter Janosi from EDRA, and Zsolt Olajoš and Lila Olajoš Kočiš from RK Senta.
The event wrapped up with participants providing their impressions and assessing their knowledge through an online evaluation form. The feedback was predominantly positive, reflecting the success and impact of this third training course. The Recovery Project continues to push boundaries and foster collaboration in the pursuit of its objectives, with more exciting progress expected in the future.
The next (4th) training course is set for 6-7 November in Senta (Serbia) with the host organiser RK Senta. We look forward very much to the meeting.