Empowering the Future of Female Athletes
Mind & Motion: Uniting Expertise Across Borders
Discover how Mind & Motion is transforming the landscape of women's sports by fostering mentorship and collaboration across Serbia, Türkiye, and Poland.
A Collaborative Approach
Uniting Diverse Expertise for Impact
Mind & Motion is a unique partnership that bridges the gap between research, policy, and grassroots sports. By combining the strengths of a research centre in Serbia, a public authority in Türkiye, and a grassroots sports club in Poland, we ensure that our Mentoring Competence Framework is grounded in evidence, has institutional reach, and is tested in real-world coaching environments.
This deliberate mix allows us to address the challenges faced by young female athletes transitioning to professional levels. Our framework empowers coaches to provide guidance, increase their impact, and enhance collaboration, ensuring that talented girls continue to thrive in sports.
Our Trusted Partners
Serbia
Edusphera Education and Research Centre
Niš, Serbia
A non-governmental, non-profit research centre working at the intersection of
education, sport and exercise science. Edusphera connects academics,
practitioners, policymakers and youth organisations to produce evidence-based
research that shapes policy and practice — with a particular focus on sport as a
tool for social change, and on accessibility, equity and participation for
underrepresented communities. Its recent work includes a study with 120
participants in Niš on barriers to sports participation among marginalised
groups, and the Inclusive Sport and Education Symposium, which brought together
over 150 youth workers, educators, policymakers and NGO representatives.
Role in the project: coordinator. Leads the development of the Mentoring
Competence Framework and brings the research methodology behind it.
Poland
Klub Sportowy Beniaminek 03
Starogard Gdański, Poland
A sports club and registered NGO founded in 2003, holding Polish public benefit
organisation status. It runs training sections in football, kick-boxing, boxing,
table tennis, tennis and horse riding for participants aged 4 to 18 and adults,
with a strong focus on young people from rural areas and those with fewer
opportunities. Since 2013 it has organised the international Deyna Cup Junior and
Beniaminek Cup tournaments, and it has held European Voluntary Service
accreditation since 2015, coordinating Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps
projects, youth exchanges and volunteering placements in sport.
Role in the project: brings hands-on grassroots coaching experience across
multiple sports and a decade of Erasmus+ delivery.
Türkiye
İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports (İGSİM)
İstanbul Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü — Istanbul, Türkiye
A public authority under the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, responsible
for delivering youth and sports policy across Istanbul — a province of more than
15 million people. Its work spans sports facilities, youth centres, student
dormitories, lifelong learning and training programmes that prepare young people
for professional and civic life.
Role in the project: brings institutional scale and direct access to coaches,
clubs and young athletes across Istanbul, and provides the route for embedding
the framework within public sports structures.
Website: istanbul.gsb.gov.tr
Facebook: facebook.com/istanbulgsim
Partner Profiles
Our Collaborative Effort
Mind & Motion unites three distinct organisations, each contributing unique strengths to our shared mission. Edusphera Education and Research Centre in Niš, Serbia, serves as the project coordinator, leveraging its extensive research capabilities to develop the Mentoring Competence Framework. This framework is grounded in evidence and designed to support young female athletes. The İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports in Türkiye provides institutional reach, ensuring the framework is integrated into public sports structures, benefiting a vast network of coaches and athletes. Meanwhile, Klub Sportowy Beniaminek 03 in Poland brings practical, grassroots coaching experience, ensuring the framework is tested and refined in real-world settings. Together, these partners create a robust support system for young athletes transitioning to professional sports.
Join Our Movement
We invite you to be part of our journey in transforming the landscape for young female athletes. Whether you're a coach, educator, or sports enthusiast, your involvement can make a significant difference. Explore our resources, learn about our Mentoring Competence Framework, and see how you can contribute to supporting the next generation of female sports leaders. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for young athletes across Europe.