Trainings

The first D (special) DAYS training event brought together secondary school teachers, project experts and partner representatives in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. The capacity-building programme prepared teachers from the four partner countries for their future role as instructors and mentors within the Transnational Inclusive Club and its local branch-clubs.

A central focus of the training was understanding how Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport can support the participation and well-being of youths with special needs. Teachers explored the potential benefits of these activities and practical ways to adapt sessions to different physical, cognitive and emotional abilities while maintaining a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.

Hands-on workshops led by NGO experts gave participants opportunities to experience and discuss practical techniques for applying D DAYS activities with diverse groups. The sessions connected the project's multidisciplinary approach with real implementation needs and encouraged teachers to consider how activities could be adjusted to the capabilities and needs of individual participants.

The programme also introduced teachers to ICT-based interactive educational games and Open Educational Resources suitable for work with youths with special educational needs. Group discussions and exchange of experience enabled participants from Portugal, North Macedonia, Greece and Croatia to compare approaches, share good practices and reflect on challenges they may encounter during local implementation.

The event concluded with reflection and evaluation of the learning achieved during the programme. By combining specialist input, practical exercises and transnational exchange, the first training event strengthened teachers' readiness for the next stage of capacity building and for the later implementation of inclusive D DAYS activities in the four partner communities.

The second D (special) DAYS training event took place in Athens, Greece, building on the knowledge and practical experience developed during the first capacity-building activity. Teachers and project experts from the four partner countries worked together in mixed transnational teams with a stronger focus on adapting the D DAYS approach for practical implementation in their local Inclusive Club branches.

Participants worked on adapting Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport activities for different abilities and on creating environments in which youths with special needs can participate safely and meaningfully. Practical sessions led by project experts encouraged teachers to examine accessibility, individual capabilities and the adjustments required when working with diverse groups.

Collaborative planning was another central part of the programme. Mixed teams discussed how inclusive D DAYS sessions would be organised locally, considered potential implementation challenges and developed practical approaches for responding to them. The teamwork strengthened teachers' ability to plan activities together across different disciplines and national contexts.

The training also strengthened participants' use of digital educational resources and transnational cooperation tools. Teachers worked with Open Educational Resources and Web 2.0 tools and received guidance on using the eTwinning platform, which supports exchange of experience and presentation of project activities across the participating schools and the wider European education community.

The event concluded with presentations, reflection and evaluation of the work completed by the mixed teams. The second training event strengthened the teachers' practical readiness, collaborative planning skills and international cooperation and prepared the partnership for implementation of the 20-week Transnational Inclusive Club Operational Program in Portugal, North Macedonia, Greece and Croatia.