Theoretical Framework: Inclusive Mentoring through Sport (MOTM)

Inclusive mentoring lies at the heart of the Mentor on the Move (MOTM) approach. It combines mentoring theory with principles of inclusion, cultural sensitivity, and sport-based social participation. Mentoring is understood not only as a tool for individual skill development, but also as a powerful social process that promotes inclusion, participation, and empowerment—especially for women and girls with migrant or refugee backgrounds. Through shared physical activities, MOTM mentoring builds bridges across cultural, linguistic, and social differences, fostering meaningful connections between people and communities.

Mentoring is understood as a structured, developmental relationship between a mentor and a mentee. Traditional mentoring often focuses on transferring knowledge from mentor to mentee, following hierarchical patterns. MOTM shifts this dynamic toward collaborative, reciprocal learning, where both participants bring knowledge, perspectives, and strengths.

MOTM is designed for culturally diverse contexts, particularly involving migrant and refugee women and girls. Inclusive mentoring explicitly recognises systemic barriers (e.g., language, cultural unfamiliarity, discrimination, economic factors) and works to remove these barriers, ensuring equitable participation and belonging.

Sport is not just an “activity” in MOTM—it is a core method. Shared movement creates informal, low-threshold spaces where:

• Hierarchies soften, as mentor and mentee act side by side;
• Trust builds through shared experiences;
• Cultural and language barriers can be bridged nonverbally;
• Access to community networks (through sports clubs and groups) becomes tangible.

This is why linking mentoring to existing sports club activities is a central strategy: it embeds inclusion into local structures rather than creating parallel systems.

Throughout all these applications, sport and physical activity act as practical, low-threshold tools to bring the principles to life. Whether it’s a mentor accompanying a mentee to their first club practice, a coordinator negotiating access to women-only sessions, or a mentee introducing a traditional dance — shared movement builds trust, fosters inclusion, and connects people to local communities in tangible ways.

Inclusive mentoring does not rely solely on mentors. It involves three key stakeholders:

• Mentors – relational facilitators, allies, and cultural bridges;
• Mentees – active participants shaping their journey;
• Coordinators – structural enablers ensuring accessibility, partnerships with clubs, and programme quality.

All three play interdependent roles to make inclusive mentoring through sport work sustainably.