April 4th, 2014 -- The Caribbean Sport and Development Agency (CSDA) joins the global sport and development fraternity in celebrating the inaugural International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6th 2014. CSDA has been formally engaged in the field of sport and development since 2002 when four volunteers came together to form what was then known as the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE).
The founding members of the organization shared a common belief in the power of sport to change lives and embarked on a journey that challenged the status quo and that sought to redefine what was considered ‘normal’. For the CSDA, low quality physical education in elementary schools was not ‘normal’; limited opportunities for girls to play sport was not ‘normal’; inadequate opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in organized sport and physical education was not normal; poorly organized youth sport programmes that placed greater emphasis on trophies and medals than on meaningful youth development was not ‘normal’…
Redefining ‘normal’ meant that persons and organizations working with children, young people and persons with disabilities in sport, physical education and recreation had to be re-educated and reoriented to a new way of thinking that was based on purpose, process and principles… and that became the mission of the organization.
CSDA is primarily concerned with enhancing capacity of personnel and organizations responsible for in-country implementation of sport and development programmes that contribute to health, education, social cohesion, gender and disability. The organization is also committed to the search for new knowledge through meaningful research that captures evidence, informs practice and leads to improved sport for development strategies and approaches.
CSDA’s mission is to develop people and communities in the Caribbean through the powerful medium of sport and physical activity, embracing the values of authenticity, consistency and trustworthiness in an unwavering commitment to strengthen institutions, enhance capacity and inform practice.
According to the United Nations (United Nations, 1978), sport has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire. Recent years have seen increased recognition, promotion and institutionalization of the role of sport and physical activity, amidst struggles for just and sustainable development on an international scale (Darnell, 2012). The United Nations defines Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) as ‘the international use of sport, physical activity and play to attain specific development and peace objectives including, most notably, the Millennium Development Goals’ (United Nations, 1978). The ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’ that will be celebrated on April 6, 2014, holds a strong significance to the Caribbean Sport and Development Agency, providing a level of validation for our efforts during the formative years of the organization.
Celebration of the Movement
This day signifies the celebration of the Sport for Development and Peace movement - a movement which is driven by the often misunderstood, yet universally acknowledged belief that sport has the power to foster child and youth development and education as well as inclusion, health and well being of people with disabilities, and most notably, peace among all.
CSDA acknowledges this day as a progression towards regional and local recognition of Sport for Development as an emerging field within the Caribbean. As we join in the recognition of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, we recognize and celebrate the contributions of those key agencies that have added value to the field and that have truly exemplified the ideals of global partnerships. The Australian Sport Commission stands out as a treasured partner to the Caribbean – they have redefined ‘normal’, along with agencies like CGC, UK Sport, UNICEF, CARICOM, OCASPE, United Way TT and the IAYS.
Among the valuable publications, Harnessing the Power of Sport: Recommendations to Governments (SDP IWG 2008) and in more recent times, the Commonwealth Guide to Advancing Development through Sport (Commonwealth Secretariat 2013) have provided an increased awareness among key stakeholders in the Caribbean of the value of sport as a key contributor to development. Importantly, both of these publications have also assisted in opening new doors for the beginning of greater collaboration among the non-sport sector – redefining ‘normal’.
Celebrating our Beneficiaries
To CSDA, all of what we do is primarily intended for the benefit of those we serve – the children, teachers, coaches, youth leaders, persons with disabilities, sport administrators and volunteers in the Caribbean - they are the reason we exist.
The acknowledgement and celebration of CSDA’s beneficiaries are vital to fueling the passion to build a healthy, productive and harmonious Caribbean through the use of sport and physical activity. During the past three years, over 4,179 participants have been trained through CSDA’s Sport for Development programs and as a result approximately 14,317 participants/youth/persons with disabilities/students are engaged in various programs that use sport as a tool for development.
As part of the celebration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, we pay tribute to representatives of government departments throughout the Caribbean who support the in-country implementation of programmes – they are redefining ‘normal’. We celebrate the youth sport leaders who facilitate peer education sessions in schools and communities – they are redefining ‘normal’. We celebrate caregivers and volunteers who dedicate their lives to ensure that others can smile – they are redefining ‘normal’.
According to UNICEF (2004), sport, recreation and play are a fun way to learn values and lessons that will last a lifetime. They promote friendship and fair play and teach skills such as teamwork, discipline, respect, and the coping skills necessary to develop individuals and communities. CSDA believes that the culture and love of sport in the Caribbean makes it a very viable medium that has the potential to contribute to the development of people and communities of the region in very significant ways. We join the global community in celebrating the inaugural International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with the hope that the efforts of the sport and development fraternity will continue to redefine ‘normal’.
References:
- Commonwealth Secretariat (2013).Commonwealth Guide to Advancing Development through Sport. Available online at:
- Darnell, Simon C. (2012) Global Citizenship and the Ethical Challenges of ‘Sport for Development and Peace’. Journal of Global Citizenship & Equity Education Vol. 2 No. 1 (Special Edition).
- Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (2008). Harnessing the Power of Sport: Recommendations to Governments. Available online at:
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