Judo Club Golovec (Slovenia) - The Coordinator
Judo Club Golovec is a well-established Slovenian judo club known for its high-quality training and strong focus on social impact. The club runs a variety of inclusive programmes, including activities for youth, women, older adults, and people with special needs. Its work has been internationally recognised as a good practice in using martial arts for social development. With an experienced team of coaches and leaders, the club actively promotes values such as respect, inclusion, and personal growth, and has successfully integrated visually impaired athletes into its regular training environment.
Kaunas Judo Club “Ryto Saulė” (Lithuania) is strongly committed to inclusion and equal access to sport. The club regularly implements activities for deaf and visually impaired judoka, as well as training sessions for young people with hearing impairments. One of its key long-term initiatives, “Judo Against Social Exclusion,” focuses on engaging youth from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds through judo and physical activity. The club also runs programmes such as safe falling training for older adults and athletes from other sports.
Through close cooperation with centres for deaf youth, it ensures that judo is accessible to all, regardless of ability. Its team combines strong coaching experience with academic expertise in social and communication sciences.
Club Deportivo Elemental Newton (Spain)
Club Deportivo Elemental Newton is a dynamic judo club and a member of both the Madrid and Royal Spanish Judo Federations. It is strongly committed to social impact, running a variety of programmes that support families, young people, and individuals with fewer opportunities.
These include summer camps, inclusive judo activities, intergenerational programmes, and youth initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness. The club is also experienced in international cooperation and sport-based development projects. Its work is led by an experienced team, including renowned judo expert Raúl Camacho Pérez (8th DAN), an Olympic-level referee and former national coach.
Judo klub osoba s invaliditetom Yuki (Croatia)
Judo klub osoba s invaliditetom Yuki is dedicated to promoting inclusion through judo, with a strong focus on working with persons with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Although newer to international sport projects, the club brings valuable practical experience and a deep commitment to social inclusion. Its work is led by director Marijana Mišković Hasanbegović and coach Ivana Dubravčić, whose professionalism and expertise in inclusive judo contribute significantly to the club’s impact in the community.
IRIS Center (Slovenia)
IRIS Center is the only public institution in Slovenia specialising in the education of children and young people with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities. It offers adapted programmes from preschool to upper secondary level and actively supports the inclusion of visually impaired learners in mainstream education. In recent years, the centre has also expanded its work to include children with autism spectrum disorders.
With over a century of experience, IRIS Center combines strong professional expertise with international cooperation, developing innovative approaches in areas such as orientation and mobility, adapted learning materials, and inclusive education.
Associated Partners: Paralympic Committees and National Judo Federations
The project is supported by the following partners, who contribute their expertise in inclusive sport and athlete development:
Slovenian Paralympic Committee – Zveza za šport invalidov Slovenije (NPC Slovenia)
Croatian Judo Federation – Hrvatski judo savez
Madrid Judo Federation – Federación Madrileña de Judo y D.A.
Lithuanian Paralympic Committee – Lietuvos paralimpinis komitetas (Parateam_Lietuva)
Their involvement helps strengthen the inclusion of visually impaired judoka and promotes wider recognition and sustainability of the project results.