Canarian technical innovation to combat exclusion through sport

The Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture, through the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI), has selected the project ‘El Hilo Rojo de Guaydil’ as one of the benchmarks in its current social innovation strategy.

This initiative, led by the Association Athletes Without Borders, has a grant of 99,400 euros to develop between 2026 and 2027 a unique intervention model that uses Paralympic Boccia as a backbone for inclusion. It is a Paralympic sport that, although it has similarities to bocce or bowling, is specifically designed for people with severe physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, or acquired brain injury.

The heart of this project lies in its ability to reduce perceived loneliness and improve the well-being of groups that are often in situations of exclusion, such as people with severe disabilities, migrant minors, and young people serving judicial confinement measures. By creating communities of practice and mixed teams, the initiative not only seeks to integrate but also to dignify and highlight the community leadership of historically stigmatized individuals.

The proposal stands out for its strong component of technical and territorial innovation. Through co-design and local manufacturing of accessible material, the project collaborates with technological allies and local orthopedic workshops to create mobile kits and specific ramps that eliminate physical barriers in sports practice. This local manufacturing approach ensures that technology is at the service of people, applying universal design criteria to create personalized itineraries adapted to each participant.

In addition to its immediate social impact, ‘El Hilo Rojo de Guaydil’ has solid scientific and academic backing. The project integrates methodologies for measuring perceived well-being and benefits from knowledge transfer from the University of La Laguna, specifically through the EMOCREAULL Group and the Chair of Coexistence and Security. This collaboration ensures that the intervention is measurable and scalable, aligning with international standards of coexistence and social development.

With projects like this one, the Government of the Canary Islands reaffirms its commitment to transformative social innovation, where science and technology transcend from laboratories to the street, to generate tangible, inclusive solutions with a profound human impact in the archipelago.