EMCA takes part in the YOULEAD project kick-off meeting in Rome
YOULEAD – Leading the Game: Developing Pathways for Gender-Balanced Youth Leaders in Sports Governance aims to strengthen youth participation in sports governance and promote gender-balanced leadership through education, research, pilot actions and international cooperation. The project brings together partners from across Europe with the shared goal of developing inclusive and sustainable governance models within sport organisations.
The kick-off meeting, hosted at Hotel degli Aranci, was the first in-person gathering of the project consortium and served as a key moment to align the project vision, clarify partners’ roles and establish the foundations for the implementation phase. The vice-president of EMCA – Gabriella BASCELLI, attended the first day of the meeting. EMCA stands out as an organisation where all 4 institutional functions are held by women, and Gabriella is one of them.
EMCA’s role within the YOULEAD project
As a European network representing multisport organisations, EMCA plays a key role in communication, dissemination and the promotion of project results, as well as in connecting sport organisations with European initiatives focused on youth engagement and inclusive governance.
During the meeting, partners presented their organisations and planned activities within the different work packages. EMCA actively contributed to discussions related to the project’s communication strategy, coordinated use of digital channels and the development of a shared narrative, with a particular focus on gender-balanced youth leadership in sports governance.
Joint planning and coordination
A significant part of the kick-off meeting was dedicated to the discussion of work packages, governance structures, project timelines and financial and administrative aspects. EMCA actively engaged in shaping the dissemination approach, ensuring that project outcomes will reach sport organisations at local, national and European level through existing networks.
Special emphasis was placed on cooperation among partners and on ensuring that the project’s results are accessible, practical and relevant for sport organisations operating in different contexts.
The start of a shared European journey
In addition to the formal sessions, the meeting provided opportunities for informal networking, strengthening mutual understanding and collaboration among partners. EMCA’s participation in the kick-off meeting in Rome represents an important first step in the implementation of the YOULEAD project, which aims to contribute to a more inclusive, fair and gender-balanced future for sports governance in Europe.