Every project has milestones, but some moments leave a lasting mark. As the RESTART project draws to a close, we look back not just at what was done, but at the moments that moved us, shaped us, and brought us together.
From online beginnings to real-world transformations, these 10 highlights tell the story of RESTART in motion.
1. The Kick-Off Meeting
An online screen filled with hopeful faces. Partners from Portugal, Spain, and Poland met virtually to align on one shared goal: bring inclusive aquatic sport to life. The excitement was real, even through the screen.
2. Let’s Meet the Partners Series –
We introduced CD Monkayak (Spain), ANTC (Portugal), and Warszawskie Towarzystwo Wioślarskie (Poland) through our blog and social media. It wasn’t just networking — it was storytelling. Each partner brought their passion for inclusion and nature-based sport.
3. Compendium of Good Practices
A collection of real success stories across Europe. From adaptive sailing to community-driven kayaking, this resource became the foundation for our pilot activities and inspired dozens of stakeholders.
4. Online Training & Coordination Meetings – Ongoing
The RESTART team met online monthly to plan, train, and adapt. These virtual spaces became crucial for exchanging methods, aligning national plans, and supporting each other across borders.
5. Expert Visit to Warsaw – Seeing adaptive rowing in action.
The Polish team hosted visitors and stakeholders to showcase how sport can be adapted and scaled. It became a turning point in motivation and visibility.
6. National Pilot Launches
Canoeing in Portugal. SUP in Spain. Rowing in Poland. Each country kicked off its pilot activities, engaging people with disabilities in real, outdoor, inclusive sport for the first time. These were the heartbeats of the project.
7. Coimbra Expert Interchange
Portugal hosted an expert and youth exchange focused on adaptive canoeing and environmental education. It brought practitioners, participants, and educators together reinforcing that inclusion isn’t a concept, it’s a practice.
8. National Coach Forum
Held in Montemor-o-Velho, Coimbra, this event brought together coaches from across Portugal to discuss how to scale inclusive practices in canoeing. It was a space of reflection, motivation, and commitment.
9. The Final Conference
RESTART’s closing event in Coimbra will present the full results, tools, and personal stories to a wide audience. More than a farewell, it’s a launchpad for what comes next: replication, scale, and lasting change.
10. Lives Changed - Ongoing
Every time someone felt welcome in a boat. Every time a coach learned a new way to connect. Every time a parent saw their child smile on the water. These are the real milestones — and they’ll continue long after the project ends.
RESTART was never just a timeline. It was a journey of dignity, collaboration, and new beginnings.
And while the official clock may stop ticking, the movement we built together is only getting started.