Behind every project are people. And behind every session, every paddle, every adapted activity of the RESTART project, there are real lives changed. Co-funded by Erasmus+, RESTART brought inclusive aquatic sports to Portugal, Spain, and Poland — but its true success is written in the personal journeys of its participants.
Today, we share some of those stories. Because the most powerful outcome of RESTART isn’t just training manuals or pilot reports — it’s the human transformation that happened when inclusion met opportunity.
Miguel, 17, PortugalBorn with cerebral palsy, Miguel never imagined himself in a canoe. "I thought it was a sport for athletes, not for someone like me," he admitted. But during the RESTART pilot in Portugal, Miguel was invited by his school to try adapted canoeing. With an instructor by his side and specialized equipment, Miguel paddled for the first time. "I felt free. For the first time, my disability wasn’t the first thing people saw." Now, Miguel participates regularly in sessions and dreams of joining a para-canoe club.
Laura, 29, SpainLaura has a hearing impairment and had often struggled to participate in group sports due to communication barriers. When she joined a RESTART stand-up paddleboarding session, she was surprised to find instructors using visual instructions and inclusive communication techniques. "I felt like I finally belonged. It wasn't just about sports, it was about respect." Laura now volunteers to help organize inclusive sport events in her region.
Tomek, 42, PolandAfter a spinal cord injury, Tomek had withdrawn from physical activity and social life. The RESTART rowing pilot offered him a reason to return to the water — a sport he loved in his youth. "Rowing again gave me strength I thought I'd lost. Not just physical, but emotional." With his help, the local rowing club has now created an open rowing group for people with and without disabilities. "We row together, we learn from each other. That’s inclusion."
Ana & João, Portugal a mother and son duo, Ana (a single mother) had always struggled to find accessible activities for João, 11, who is on the autism spectrum. Through RESTART, they discovered family-inclusive canoeing sessions. "It changed our weekends. We stopped being isolated and found a community," Ana shared. João has since made friends, and Ana joined a parent support network formed around the sessions.
Marcin, 23, Poland diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability, Marcin never had the chance to travel or try new sports. Through the RESTART pilot, he not only learned to row but was also selected to help mentor new participants. "They trusted me. I was responsible. That changed everything for me." Marcin now studies sports assistance and hopes to work in inclusive coaching.
These Stories Are the True Legacy of RESTART
They are proof that when we remove barriers and open access to sport and nature, we change lives. The RESTART project might be wrapping up its official activities, but its ripple effect continues in every story like Miguel’s, Laura’s, and Marcin’s.
Because inclusive sport is not just about paddles and boards — it’s about dignity, confidence, friendship, and hope.
And that is a future worth paddling toward.