sport for peace and conflict management
A-STEP explores the potential of sports activities as a tool for building resilience and helping people affected by disaster and displacement to bridge divides and overcome trauma. The positive effects of sports for peace project was initiated in Uasin Gishu County 2007/2008 by A-STEP as a unifying factor in the process of conflict transformation, peace-building, restoration of interaction and communication, and the emotional and social rehabilitation of a traumatized community.
Working since 2008 for poverty reduction, literacy, employment, women's empowerment, peace, and disaster management in the North Rift Province, A-STEP engages in partnership with community, public, and civil society organizations to foster a just, peaceful, and prosperous society where all people have equal access to opportunities. Under the sports for peace project, 4,360 players constituting 330 teams were provided with sporting goods in 8 distribution ceremonies and tasked with reviving and promoting sports activities in their respective areas.
The emphasis is on building social cohesion and to encourage community member to interact and communicate with each other. Psychosocial aspect of the sports for peace project do not have a primary focus on competition and winning, but rather an emphasis on the cultivation of a cooperative and supportive environment. The culture of cooperation contributed significantly to the restoration of psychosocial and social functioning. People benefite from having regular contact with providers of physical activity who provide trust worthy and reliable role models.
Revival of sports activities provide a forum to learn skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership and it teaches core principles such as tolerance, co-operation and respect. Sport teaches the values of effort and how to manage victory as well as defeat.
Sports for peace project help to promote social integration and foster tolerance, helping to reduce tension and generate dialogue. Establish a sense of structure and 'normalcy' in youth's lives, which is particularly important for children affected by armed conflict and displacement. Sports for Peace project harness the power of sport and play to teach important life skills and values that can contribute toward building vibrant and peaceful communities. Participants learn how to communicate, work in teams and set goals. The project helps youth cultivate an ability to resolve conflicts peacefully through increased self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities, as well as motivation and courage to be positive agents of change. Regular activities also reduce stress, anxiety and depression, provide respite from conflict and stressful situations, and help children affected by conflict and war regain a sense of normalcy. Feedback from evaluations conducted in various areas of Uasin Gishu showcase how Sports for peace project is contributing toward decreased violence and conflict in the community and an increase in ability to resolve conflict cooperatively.
Partnership with Mercy Corps (2009-2012)
Together with Grassroot Soccer & Mercy Corps, A-STEP firstly developed the Sports for Peace and Life curriculum. A-STEP functioned as the recruitment team, locating coaches and teachers from each area and community to lead the programme. A Mercy Corps employee then partnered with a Grassroot Soccer employee to train these new recruits who in turn led groups of youths, ages 13-24, through 6 weeks of curriculum and training. In most cases the sport used was soccer, although for some all-girls teams it was volleyball.
The project used game-based activities, to create awareness on Drug abuse, build good relationship between the communities and to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS, teach youth about the difference between HIV and AIDS, how the disease is transmitted, and how to avoid infection through the use of condoms, abstinence, or by having only one partner. According to Mercy Corps, the game-based approach is a relaxed and comfortable way to address these sensitive topics. The organisation also strives to identify trusted adults in the community to be coaches so the atmosphere can be relaxed and youths can talk openly about the issues addressed. For the peace building component of the programme, role-playing was used to give examples of how to manage conflict rather than resort to violence.
Once the 6-week curriculum was over, participants completed a post-test to measure changed attitudes and understanding. A large county tournament was held to celebrate the completion of the programme as well as reinforce the main issues. Nike provided jerseys and sports equipment for all the teams and in total donated more than 190,000 pieces of equipment. The tournament was not only a celebration but a graduation from the programme. In 9 months 7,000 youth completed the Sports for Peace and Life programme, with a 92% graduation rate. In total, there were 366 coaches spread out among the 6 constituency of Uasin Gishu with each coach in charge of approximately 20 - 25 youths.
Working since 2008 for poverty reduction, literacy, employment, women's empowerment, peace, and disaster management in the North Rift Province, A-STEP engages in partnership with community, public, and civil society organizations to foster a just, peaceful, and prosperous society where all people have equal access to opportunities. Under the sports for peace project, 4,360 players constituting 330 teams were provided with sporting goods in 8 distribution ceremonies and tasked with reviving and promoting sports activities in their respective areas.
The emphasis is on building social cohesion and to encourage community member to interact and communicate with each other. Psychosocial aspect of the sports for peace project do not have a primary focus on competition and winning, but rather an emphasis on the cultivation of a cooperative and supportive environment. The culture of cooperation contributed significantly to the restoration of psychosocial and social functioning. People benefite from having regular contact with providers of physical activity who provide trust worthy and reliable role models.
Revival of sports activities provide a forum to learn skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership and it teaches core principles such as tolerance, co-operation and respect. Sport teaches the values of effort and how to manage victory as well as defeat.
Sports for peace project help to promote social integration and foster tolerance, helping to reduce tension and generate dialogue. Establish a sense of structure and 'normalcy' in youth's lives, which is particularly important for children affected by armed conflict and displacement. Sports for Peace project harness the power of sport and play to teach important life skills and values that can contribute toward building vibrant and peaceful communities. Participants learn how to communicate, work in teams and set goals. The project helps youth cultivate an ability to resolve conflicts peacefully through increased self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities, as well as motivation and courage to be positive agents of change. Regular activities also reduce stress, anxiety and depression, provide respite from conflict and stressful situations, and help children affected by conflict and war regain a sense of normalcy. Feedback from evaluations conducted in various areas of Uasin Gishu showcase how Sports for peace project is contributing toward decreased violence and conflict in the community and an increase in ability to resolve conflict cooperatively.
Partnership with Mercy Corps (2009-2012)
Together with Grassroot Soccer & Mercy Corps, A-STEP firstly developed the Sports for Peace and Life curriculum. A-STEP functioned as the recruitment team, locating coaches and teachers from each area and community to lead the programme. A Mercy Corps employee then partnered with a Grassroot Soccer employee to train these new recruits who in turn led groups of youths, ages 13-24, through 6 weeks of curriculum and training. In most cases the sport used was soccer, although for some all-girls teams it was volleyball.
The project used game-based activities, to create awareness on Drug abuse, build good relationship between the communities and to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS, teach youth about the difference between HIV and AIDS, how the disease is transmitted, and how to avoid infection through the use of condoms, abstinence, or by having only one partner. According to Mercy Corps, the game-based approach is a relaxed and comfortable way to address these sensitive topics. The organisation also strives to identify trusted adults in the community to be coaches so the atmosphere can be relaxed and youths can talk openly about the issues addressed. For the peace building component of the programme, role-playing was used to give examples of how to manage conflict rather than resort to violence.
Once the 6-week curriculum was over, participants completed a post-test to measure changed attitudes and understanding. A large county tournament was held to celebrate the completion of the programme as well as reinforce the main issues. Nike provided jerseys and sports equipment for all the teams and in total donated more than 190,000 pieces of equipment. The tournament was not only a celebration but a graduation from the programme. In 9 months 7,000 youth completed the Sports for Peace and Life programme, with a 92% graduation rate. In total, there were 366 coaches spread out among the 6 constituency of Uasin Gishu with each coach in charge of approximately 20 - 25 youths.
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