Facilitators and barriers to the implementation and participation in social projects that involve sport activities: the case of Village School Program and of the Active Sport projects

Abstract

This paper presents the main facilitators and barriers for the implementation of two social projects and for the participation of children in them. The research was qualitative and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with children and their parents/guardians; professionals and volunteers of the projects. Some factors are sometimes facilitators or barriers to implementation: the presence or absence of qualified professionals and of support for their work, quantity and/or quality of partnerships; level of consistency in the work of the partners, quantity and quality of space and equipment available; level of involvement of the community and/or parents. The main facilitators for participation are: access to sport activities, socialization opportunities, and perception of the projects as saver than streets. The main barrier is lack of security in the passage to and from the projects. The results of this research can contribute to the improved of these and other similar projects.