Macolin/Geneva, May 15, 2013: The UNOSDP will today commence with its fifth Youth Leadership Program (YLP) in Macolin, Switzerland. This YLP will be the first to be fully facilitated in the French language.Participants for this program have made the journey from a range of French speaking African countries and the Eastern Mediterranean. Working in close cooperation with the international NGO, Right to Play and the Swiss Sports Federation, the UNOSDP is looking forward to organising yet another successful event for the future youth leaders.
The objective of the YLP is to support deserving young community workers who work with basic education levels and limited resources, by providing them with access to theoretical and practical training on how sport can be better used to effect positive change in their communities.
Mr. Wilfried Lemke, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, will attend the opening ceremony and address the young participants.
“Sport is a powerful tool in promoting gender equality, inclusion of people with disabilities, world peace and development, both by mega-event as shown during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and day-to-day community activities. As such, the program helps the young community leaders better take advantage of sport from grassroots to facilitate positive changes social changes.”
Mr. Lemke expressed his enthusiasm for the program and gratitude to the many organizations and companies involved, including the International Paralympic Committee, the International Judo Federation, Table Tennis Federation, International Volleyball Federation Heroes, Play & Train, Swimsport.ch ,Inspirasport, Peace Players, Football Club Basel 1893 and their partner Scort Foundation, and the sportswear company 361 Degrees International.
The eleven-day camp will feature a theme per day, covering sport and gender, inclusion with people with disabilities, education, peace, event planning, and program development, etc. A team of experts and experienced practitioners will be the facilitators. This design is to allow the youth to learn in multi-dimensions of the function of sport for development and peace, and apply their learning to real-life situations in their communities.
“As the Swiss Federal Agency of Sport and National Sports Training Centre, we are delighted to again be hosting the UNOSDP Youth Leadership Program in Macolin. We are glad to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace,” said Matthias Remund, the Director of OFSPO.
The effect of the previous four successful YLPs still remain, the alumni have been sharing information and exchanging experiences about their application of the YLP’s contents. During the next eleven days, their feedback will be reflected in the 6th program and will continue to benefit the future participants and more people in their communities. —- UNOSDP
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