About the Project

D (special) DAYS — Enhancing Inclusivity for Youths with Special Needs through Multidisciplinary Integration approach — is an Erasmus+ KA220-YOU cooperation partnership creating inclusive opportunities through Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport. Across Portugal, Greece, North Macedonia and Croatia, the project combines teacher capacity building, a Transnational Inclusive Club with four local branch-clubs, and a 20-week Operational Program designed for mixed teams of secondary school students and youths with special needs.

Five disciplines. One inclusive approach.

Drama
Dance
Art
Yoga
Sport
  • 4 Countries
  • 4 Branch-Clubs
  • 20 Weeks

Why This Project Exists

Youths with special needs can face barriers to participation, social interaction and access to inclusive educational, cultural and community activities. Schools, educators and local communities also need practical approaches, appropriate skills and safe environments that respond to different physical, cognitive and emotional needs while encouraging active participation and a sense of belonging.

D (special) DAYS responds through a multidisciplinary and transnational approach. Partners from Portugal, Greece, North Macedonia and Croatia combine the expertise of schools, municipalities and civil-society organisations to create inclusive club environments, strengthen teachers’ capacity, deliver adapted Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport activities, and build stronger local and transnational cooperation around the inclusion of youths with special needs.

Project Objectives

  • Safe and Inclusive Environments

    Establish and equip four Inclusive Club branch-clubs in Santa Maria da Feira, Kočani, Piraeus and Daruvar, providing safe and supportive spaces for youths with special needs to participate in D DAYS activities.

  • Tailored Multidisciplinary Programme

    Develop and implement a 20-week Operational Program built around Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport, with structured sessions adapted to participants’ abilities and needs.

  • Teacher Capacity Building

    Create the D DAYS Handbook and deliver two transnational training events that strengthen secondary school teachers’ skills as instructors and mentors of mixed teams.

  • Social Integration and Peer Participation

    Bring secondary school students and youths with special needs together in mixed teams, strengthening participation, peer support, teamwork and a sense of belonging.

  • Sustainable Cooperation and Local Impact

    Build long-term cooperation among schools, municipalities, NGOs and community stakeholders while supporting stronger local approaches, awareness and future initiatives for inclusion.

Target Groups

Primary Target Groups

  • Youths with special needs from the four targeted municipalities, participating in inclusive activities tailored to their needs.
  • Secondary school students from partner schools, participating alongside youths with special needs in mixed teams and joint D DAYS activities.
  • Secondary school teachers from partner schools, trained to work as instructors and mentors within the Inclusive Club branch-clubs.

Secondary Target Groups

  • Parents of youths with special needs, involved in awareness activities, workshops and monitoring the progress of their children.
  • Local authorities and municipal representatives contributing to stronger local approaches, policies and strategies for inclusion.
  • NGOs and socio-economic organisations working with youths from vulnerable groups and supporting networking, cooperation and long-term sustainability.

Expected Results

Main Outputs

  • D DAYS Handbook & Teacher Training Programme

    A practical Handbook containing five tailored training modules for Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport, supported by two transnational training events that prepare secondary school teachers to implement inclusive D DAYS activities.

  • Transnational Inclusive Club & Operational Program

    An operational Transnational Inclusive Club with four equipped local branch-clubs and a 20-week programme of structured Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport sessions for mixed teams of secondary school students and youths with special needs.

Capacity & Impact

  • Inclusive Participation and Peer Support

    Regular mixed-team activities create opportunities for youths with special needs and secondary school students to participate together, develop skills, strengthen teamwork and build a stronger sense of belonging.

  • Stronger Teacher Capacity and Transnational Learning

    Teachers gain practical knowledge, inclusive methods and experience in adapting D DAYS activities for different abilities, while cooperation across partner countries supports exchange of practice and continued learning.

  • Sustainable Cooperation and Stakeholder Engagement

    Local workshops, national dissemination events, strategic cooperation and an Action Plan strengthen links among schools, municipalities, NGOs and other stakeholders and support continued action for inclusion beyond the project period.

Project Timeline

  1. Q4 2024

    Project Start & Coordination Setup

    All partners

    The partnership begins project coordination, establishes working structures and responsibilities, and prepares the implementation of the main project activities.

  2. Q1 2025

    Project Launch & Kick-Off Meeting

    Kočani, North Macedonia

    Partners formally launch D (special) DAYS, coordinate responsibilities and working methods, and review the implementation framework for the project.

  3. Q4 2024 – Q2 2025

    D DAYS Handbook & Tailored Training Modules

    Transnational partner collaboration

    NGO experts develop the five Handbook modules for Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport and prepare practical guidance for secondary school teachers.

  4. Q1 – Q3 2025

    Establishment of the Transnational Inclusive Club

    Santa Maria da Feira, Kočani, Piraeus and Daruvar

    Four local Inclusive Club branch-clubs are established and equipped, with organisational structures and conditions prepared for safe and inclusive D DAYS activities.

  5. Q2 2025

    First Training Event

    Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal

    Secondary school teachers take part in practical capacity building on inclusive D DAYS activities, adapted methods, interactive tools and approaches for working with diverse abilities.

  6. Q3 2025

    Second Training Event

    Athens, Greece

    Teachers work in mixed transnational teams to adapt activities, strengthen inclusive practice, plan implementation and build their capacity for international cooperation.

  7. Q4 2025 – Q1 2026

    20-Week Inclusive Club Operational Program

    Santa Maria da Feira, Kočani, Piraeus and Daruvar

    Trained teachers lead weekly Drama, Dance, Art, Yoga and Sport sessions with mixed teams of secondary school students and youths with special needs.

  8. Q4 2025

    Local Stakeholder Workshops

    Four targeted municipalities

    Local stakeholders engage with the project approach, discuss inclusion challenges and opportunities, and contribute to stronger cooperation and sustainable local support.

  9. Q2 2026

    Special (Olympic) Games

    Daruvar, Croatia

    Participants from the four countries come together to present and celebrate the skills, teamwork and achievements developed through the inclusive D DAYS activities.

  10. Q3 – Q4 2026

    National Dissemination Events

    Portugal, Greece, North Macedonia and Croatia

    National events present project activities, results and lessons learned to stakeholders and promote wider use of the project’s inclusive and transnational approaches.

  11. Q4 2026

    Evaluation, Sustainability & Project Closure

    All partners

    The partnership completes final evaluation and reporting, supports continued access to project results, strengthens sustainability measures and prepares future cooperation beyond the funded project period.