In today's interconnected world, many young people are concerned about global issues, while sustainability remains one of the greatest challenges of the 21th century. Conversely, youth empowerment starts at the grassroots level and depends on the diverse situation of young people. The new EU Youth strategy (2019-2027) adopted in 2018 has a great emphasis on engaging, empowering and connecting young people across the European Union and beyond to foster voluntary engagement, learning mobility and solidarity. Due to its universality, sport is an ultimate tool to empower, connect and educate young people all over the world. The upcoming summer Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, Dakar 2022 and Paris 2024 have considerable potential to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable development and to promote durable social legacy for the new generations. Our project, Sport for Sustainable Development aims to involve youth leaders, youth trainers, coaches, NGO staff from three continents in a number of interrelated activities in order to develop their skills on how to use sport as a tool for achieving sustainable development goals. Participants will be involved and empowered to bring out the potential of the youngsters they work with and learn how to use sport and act as multipliers for positive change in their local, national and international environment. The Sport for Sustainable Development project builds on long-term, cross-sector cooperation allowing involved organizations to exchange experiences and methodology in the fields of sport-based non-formal education and youth-led sustainable development, thus also strengthening their capacities for increased levels of action.Main objectives of the project: 1. Create a platform for sharing and transfer of knowledge in the fields of sport-based non-formal and formal education between partner organisations and stakeholders representing the youth, education and sport sectors;2. Up-skill youth sport trainers, youth workers, youth leaders and NGO staff to increase knowledge, skills and competences in the field of sustainable development through sport and for empowering young people they work with in their local communities;3. Raise awareness on the educational power of sport activities together with the importance of using the potential of large-scale and middle-scale sport events also for educational purposes. 4. Gather information on good practices in the field of sustainable development through sport and develop an online training manual for delivering the SDG workshop;5. Provide learning and mobility opportunities for disadvantaged young people to experience the educational legacy of Tokyo 2020, Dakar 2022 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games;6. Create legacy activities to support the post-Tokyo 2020 youth sports education and link it with the pre-educational activities of Dakar 2022 and Paris 2024;7. Build capacity and create synergies through partners from different sectors.
The project aimed to develop sport-based, non-formal educational programs in the topic of sustainability and capitalize on the unique opportunities provided by mega and large-scale sport events. The main objectives were to create a transcontinental knowledge platform for exchanging relevant expertise in the field of education through sport and to develop methodology and tools for the Sport for Sustainable Development training course to be implemented in different educational settings.
In 2017 ENGSO Youth organized the European Youth Sport Forum bringing together young sport leaders and providing a platform for youth-led dialogue. One of the main topics discussed was sustainable development. The youth perceived that mega sport events did not provide enough opportunities for sustainable development in general. That’s where Sport for Sustainable Development (SSD) project idea was born, initiated by young members of ENGSO Youth and supported by partner organizations.
<< Background >> In 2017 ENGSO Youth organized the European Youth Sport Forum bringing together young sport leaders and providing a platform for youth-led dialogue. One of the main topics discussed was sustainable development. The youth perceived that mega sport events did not provide enough opportunities for sustainable development in general. That’s where Sport for Sustainable Development (SSD) project idea was born, initiated by young members of ENGSO Youth and supported by partner organizations. << Objectives >> The project aimed to develop sport-based, non-formal educational programs in the topic of sustainability and capitalize on the unique opportunities provided by mega and large-scale sport events. The main objectives were to create a transcontinental knowledge platform for exchanging relevant expertise in the field of education through sport and to develop methodology and tools for the Sport for Sustainable Development training course to be implemented in different educational settings. << Implementation >> Implementation steps: Kick-off meeting (due to COVID-19 was organised online); ScoreALL17 training manual development; Online Sport for Sustainable development conference; Youth Exchange in Dakar, Senegal; Training course and job shadowing in Tokyo, Japan; Local dissemination activities and final conference in Paris, France (French NOC HQ). Monthly online partner meetings were organised for administration, monitoring and evaluation. << Results >> Tangible results of the project: Online educational module (ScoreAll17training manual); A webpage (https://sport4sd.com) with information and results; Recognition certificates; Newsletters, videos, photos and leaflets. Intangible results as the knowledge and experience gained by participants or staff, increased transferable skills and enhanced communication and intercultural skills shall be measured and recorded with interviews, questionnaires and self-assessment mechanisms.