The Equal GEMS project (Girls’ Empowerment through Sport: a new gender equality programme in school physical education) is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Sport (Project No. 101184042) coordinated by CUS Padova (Italy). It brings together partners from Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, and France to promote gender equality and girls’ empowerment through physical education (PE) and sport in schools.
Equal GEMS addresses the persistent gender gap in sports participation and leadership, where girls often face barriers such as stereotypes, limited opportunities, and lack of supportive role models. The project targets secondary school girls, PE teachers, coaches, and sport educators, aiming to transform how gender equality is integrated into both formal and non-formal education.
The project’s core objectives are to:
Develop a gender-sensitive model of physical education that encourages participation and leadership among girls.
Train PE teachers and coaches to adopt inclusive practices and gender-equal language.
Establish collaboration between schools and sports organizations to create inclusive, motivating environments.
Build student-led sports clubs as spaces for empowerment, self-expression, and leadership.
Expected outcomes include:
A Gender Equality in School Sport Toolkit for teachers and coaches.
An Online Reflective Diary for students to explore their sport identity, motivation, and experiences.
A Portfolio of Competences for “Coaches for Gender Equality in Sport.”
The creation of Student Sports Clubs in participating schools, promoting long-term engagement and peer-led initiatives.
IDL is responsible for the design and implementation of the Online Reflective Diary, a digital self-assessment and learning tool that gathers students’ perceptions, sport profiles, and reflective narratives to track empowerment progress. IDL also supports the development of communication tools and the project’s website, ensuring that resources are engaging, accessible, and sustainable.