MAternity on the bench: proMoting equAlity for women in sports
Start Date: November 2025
End Date: October 2027
Duration: 24 months
Budget: €400,000
Funding: Erasmus+ Sport
MAternity on the bench: proMoting equAlity for women in sports
Start Date: November 2025
End Date: October 2027
Duration: 24 months
Budget: €400,000
Funding: Erasmus+ Sport
MAMA – MAternity on the bench: proMoting equAlity for women in sports
is an Erasmus+ project that empowers women, especially mothers, to embrace physical activity as a pathway to health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. By promoting sport as a lifestyle habit rather than a performance goal, MAMA encourages women of all ages and backgrounds to overcome physical, social, and cultural barriers that limit participation in sport and physical activities.
The project supports the EU strategy for gender equality in sport and aligns with the European Week of Sport’s objectives of inclusion and active citizenship.
MAMA aims to:
Introduces an innovative approach by implementing maternity-friendly frameworks and policies across various sports settings.
Promote social inclusion, equal opportunities, and well-being in sports by focusing on maternity support for women athletes: MAMA project directly promotes gender equality in sport by addressing the barriers women athletes face during maternity.
Promote education in and through sport, encouraging dual careers of athletes: maternity support is a vital element of the dual career concept,
Build capacity to work transnationally and across sectors: the project will equip partners but also key stakeholders with the knowledge, capacity, tools and network needed to support gender equality measures related to motherhood across various sporting disciplines and contexts
To reach its goals, MAMA will:
Develop the MAMA Toolkit, including resources, methodologies, and best practices for sport organizations to engage mothers in sport.
Implement local mentoring programs, connecting active mothers with those seeking motivation or facing barriers.
Train sport educators and local leaders to use inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches.
Host awareness campaigns and community events promoting the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Build the MAMA Network, a sustainable EU platform sharing tools, stories, and success models to inspire future initiatives.
Social Innovation Sports Hub Associação (PT) – Project Coordinator
EPSI – European Platform for Sport Innovation (BE)
Symplexis (GR)
CSIT – International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (AT)
Olympiacos SFP (GR)
Somos Poderosas (ES)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them