Robust discussions between the CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministry of Social Services are underway to develop, pilot and implement an After School Activity Programme (ASAP) in Anguilla. The ASAP which targets in-school and out of school youth, is framed under the Youth Innovation Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which seeks to address human development through linked environmental, economic, and social inputs to optimize youth potential. The Caribbean Sport and Development Agency (CSDA) with its focus on building people and communities through sport, is listed as a major partner in the development and implementation of the programme.
Over the past two days, several meetings have been held with various stakeholders including representatives of the Ministry of Social Services (Sport, Culture, Education and Youth), National Sports Associations, Private Sector representatives, as well as Principals, Physical Education Teachers, members of school boards and Physical Education students.
In view of the increasing challenges facing youth today, governments across the region are exploring new strategies and approaches to address the emerging issues. The ASAP therefore seeks to utilize sport as a tool to address some of these challenges including crime and violence, HIV AIDS, and non communicable diseases while aiming to awaken social awareness and responsibility within participants through increased knowledge, skills and attitudes. The young people will learn sports skills as well as lifeskills such as leadership, teamwork, discipline and anger management through active involvement in authentic learning situations. The programme will give participants the opportunity to develop a range of other sport leadership and related skills such as officiating, coaching, team management and sport journalism through interactive sport experiences.
The expected outcomes of the ASAP include:
1) Increased positive use of leisure time among youth;
2) Increased use of school / community sport facilities to enhance the development of life skills among youth;
3) Enhanced life skills among participating youth;
4) Increased pool of talent in selected sport;
5) Increased capacity of country to manage ASAPs.
The effective delivery and management of the pilot initiative will require engagement of persons with the requisite skill sets to carry out the tasks of managing, coaching and facilitating the experiences of the target population. In this regard, all facilitators of the ASAP will be trained and sensitized in keeping with the concepts, philosophies and practices of ‘Sport for Development’. Training will incorporate strategies for using sport as a basis for imparting key social skills such as conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork and decision-making. Key personnel targeted for training will be drawn from school administrators, sports associations, community coaches, members of volunteer groups and members of youth development groups. The implementation of the training workshops will be facilitated by the CSDA.
According to Mr. John Campbell, Deputy Programme Manager for Sport and Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, the eventual success and sustainability of the programme will depend on the purposeful collaboration and cooperation among governments, private sector and civil society. He further stated that the ASAP pilot project will also serve to amass critical information on the feasibility and value of such an approach to the advancement of youth and inform national and regional policies in view of the integration of sport in national development plans.
The ASAP, which is also being piloted in St. Lucia and Grenada, is expected to commence in January 2014 and will be preceded by planned training workshops scheduled to begin in November 2013.
Department of Sports
30/10/2013
-Press Release
