EU Plays Significant Role in Anti-Poverty Campaigns
Inclusive Sailing Event Delights Participants, Fostering Inclusion and Empowerment
Participants from a variety of cities in the region, including Essen, Düsseldorf, Jülich, and Mülheim an der Ruhr, participated in a four-day sailing adventure from Thursday to Sunday, demonstrating that sailing is an achievable activity for individuals with physical, psychological, and social limitations. Despite the heavy rain showers on Sunday, the participants' spirits remained high.
The sailing club of the Essen-based association has been offering inclusive sailing with accredited trainers since 2022, working in partnership with 'Inclusive Sailing for All' e.V. Special boats, designed with wheelchair users in mind, allow individuals using wheelchairs to enjoy water sports on the Baldeneysee. Alongside the Turning Point Foundation from Heidelberg, the ETUF sailing club organized this extended weekend event to solidify their own inclusive sailing offer. Many club members were present to offer assistance and support to the guests with disabilities.
The Turning Point Foundation, under the motto "Together we create turning points", aims to encourage more inclusion in daily life through sailing. By supporting inclusive activities of clubs like the ETUF sailing club, their goal is to ensure the long-term success of such endeavors. Heinz-Peter Schmidt, the founder of the Turning Point Foundation, emphasizes their mission to "create turning points in the lives of disadvantaged people together with partner clubs from the sailing scene, contributing to inclusion in our society, with a particular focus on children and youth."
After the successful three-day event, Thomas Mai, the second chairman of the ETUF sailing club, expressed confidence that more events of this nature would follow. "The enthusiasm and newly gained self-confidence of the participants after their experiences on the water leave us no other choice," said Mai.
The "Together we create turning points" inclusive sailing event organised by the ETUF sailing club in collaboration with Inclusive Sailing for All e.V. and the Turning Point Foundation seeks to provide a platform for people with and without disabilities to engage in sailing together and experience the empowerment that comes with cooperation. The event has garnered praise for promoting confidence, social integration, and physical activity for participants with disabilities.
Moving forward, the organisers plan to scale up participation, host the event in diverse locations, enhance accessibility, and develop regular programs throughout the year. They are also seeking to strengthen partnerships with local government, disability organizations, and sponsors to secure sustainable funding. The ultimate vision is to establish the event as an annual flagship inclusive sailing festival in the region, creating a replicable model that other sailing clubs and organizations can adopt worldwide.
The "Together we create turning points" inclusive sailing event, featuring sports-analysis to ensure continuous improvement, aims to encourage more participants with disabilities to engage in sports like sailing, fostering social integration and physical activity. By scaling up participation, offering regular programs, and collaborating with stakeholders, the organizers aim to establish an annual flagship sports-analysis inclusive sailing festival, creating a replicable model for promoting sports and inclusion worldwide.
