Following the increase in migration, the increase and recognition of disadvantaged groups (new poor, NEETS, nomads, the disabled, the elderly at risk of isolation), and the continuing challenges to adapt to an increasingly technological and intercultural world, a peripheral territory, and in some areas still unresponsive to new stimuli like that of the suburbs of Turin, expressed the need for novelty and preparation. The goal of MeetLab is to offer citizens activities and programs that foster integration, inclusion and social cohesion, using sport as a main vehicle, but also culture, art in all its forms and the exchange between different subjects. The goal of MeetLab can be found in its name: meet, which means meeting but also knowing each other, and lab. A laboratory to foster social relationships, skills, knowledge, active citizenship through a simple but modern language, and addressed to the individual who becomes a community. MeetLab is a non-political and non-religious association.

The objectives of the association are:

• Develop and implement sports, cultural and recreational programs for disadvantaged groups to promote integration and inclusion. Our courses are aspecially aimed at people with intellectual disabilities. MeetLab does not discriminate for reasons of sex, age, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation and political orientation, ability.

• Development of active citizenship: inform citizens about their rights and make them participate in their own reality, promote volunteering in sports, recreational and cultural activities, promote the protection of cultural heritage and the environment and support for people in disadvantaged conditions

• Promote sport as a vehicle for health, and promote healthy and active lifestyles for the population.

• Support and promote innovation, including technology, in the field of sport and culture.

• Expanding its network also at European level, to bring the international scope and the exchange between countries also in the suburbs

 

Although MeetLab is a new association, its staff have expertise from professionals who have worked for years in social sport and in national and European design. Professionals working for MeetLab have been and are close collaborators of associations that is very active in national and international projects, as technical support. MeetLab also offers support to associations in the implementation of social projects of all kinds, making its experts available in the evaluation, monitoring and dissemination of activities carried out.

 

MeetLab, thanks to its network and its experts, is capable of:

• Organizing sport cultural and recreational programs following the objectives of the project

• Organizing sportive, cultural and recreational events following the objectives of the project

• Networking with local associations that work with disadvantaged group

• Networking with administrations, press and common citizens

• Implement descriptive and analytic studies

• Carry on the evaluation of projects at all of the stages: formative, summative, process outcomes, impact

• Implement a full dissemination strategy, from the beginning to the end of the project, and supporting the partners for the dissemination events