To promote sports and enhance participation of youth in different sports the sample project on establishment of integrated sports centers aims to set up integrated sports facilities to promote sport as a means of social cohesion and youth development. The integrated sport centers will provide an excellent opportunity to the youth to learn and refine their skills in various sports.
Executive Summary
Sports remain an underdeveloped and underfunded sector in Ghana. Sports policies in Ghana and other African countries are fragmented and uncoordinated. Also, sports does not get proper recognition by political parties and thus is not included in their political agenda. Considering sports provide a wide range of benefits for the overall development of the community, it is essential that sport activities are promoted across the country. To promote sports and enhance participation of youth in different sports, the XYZ foundation is submitting the proposed project. The proposed project aims to set up integrated sports centers to promote sport as a means of social cohesion and youth development in Ghana. The integrated sport centers will provide an excellent opportunity to the youth to learn and refine their skills in various sports.
Introduction
According to the United Nations, sport activities are an important enabler of sustainable development, as it facilitates the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities. Sports play an important role in promoting development, peace, tolerance and respect. Realising the important role that sports can play in community development and wellbeing, the Agenda 2030 recognizes sports as an unique tool to inspire global action for development.
Various studies suggest that regular participation in sport and physical activities provides various social and health benefits. Along with having a direct positive impact on the individual’s health and physical fitness, participation in any kind of sport also instill healthy lifestyle choices among children and young people. Studies conducted by the World Health Organization have also highlighted that physical exercise can stimulate positive mental health and cognitive development. Furthermore, a regular exercise and sport activity improves self-esteem, confidence, hard work, teamwork and inculcates the feeling of integrity. Appended below are some of the reasons that make sports an important tool for the development and wellbeing of youth.
Educational Development: Sports help in the holistic development of young people as it supports their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Studies suggest that sports help in improving the educational potential of young children and improve their performance in academics, especially in children.
Imbibe good values: Sports help in imbibing some very important virtues and morals in young people and children. When participating in different sports one can learn the following virtues:
- Honesty
- Teamwork
- Fair play
- Respect for themselves and others
- Adherence to rules
Life Skills Development: Along with improvement in physical skills and strength, sports can help in building lifelong skills. These include:
- Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Confidence
- Analytical thinking
- Risk taking capacity
- Social Cohesion
Improvement of physical aspects: Participating in sports/physical activity develops the five components of fitness, which are:
- Strength
- Speed
- Skill
- Stamina and
Professional Development: There are several avenues that open up after undertaking sports training and participating in various sports. Some of the professions that athletes and sportsmen can get into:
Recreational sport managers
- Sports marketing
- Event management
- Facility management
- Sports economics
- Sports journalism and sports information
- Therapists
- Coaches
- Sports leaders etc.
Health Development: According to WHO, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity is the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability due to non-communicable diseases. Sports can significantly improve health and well-being thereby increasing life expectancy and reducing likelihood of non-communicable diseases.
Sports remain an underdeveloped and underfunded sector in Ghana. Sports policies in Ghana and other African countries are fragmented and uncoordinated. The sports ministries remain underfunded and understaffed resulting in poor governance. Also, sports does not get proper recognition by political parties and thus is not included in their political agenda.
Considering sports provide a wide range of benefits for the overall development of the community, it is essential that sport activities are promoted across the country. To promote sports and enhance participation of youth in different sports, the XYZ foundation is submitting the proposed project. The proposed project aims to set up integrated sports centers to promote sport as a means of social cohesion and youth development. The integrated sport centers will provide an excellent opportunity to the youth to learn and refine their skills in various sports. Trainers will be hired to train the youth and children in the center and will also be responsible for carrying out the sports events in and around the city. The integrated sports center will also serve as a one point unit to provide a variety of enjoyable sporting and fitness opportunities including indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Through the center we shall identify and create opportunities for the talented youth to participate in national and international sport events.
Project Description
Goal
To improve the wellbeing and enhance sportsmanship among the youth of Ghana through the establishment of Integrated Sports Centers in three regions of Ghana.
Objectives
- To establish integrated sports centers to provide a platform to the youth and children to improve their skills in various sports.
- To improve the participation of youth in various national and international sporting events through proper training programs.
Target Beneficiaries and Location: Youth and Children
- The sports centers will be located in the following regions of Ghana-
- Bono East Region
- Upper East Region
- Western Region
Detailed Activities to be undertaken
- Procurement of Land: Our organization has already identified suitable land for establishing the Integrated Sports Center. Once the project gets sanctioned we shall procure the land and initiate the construction of the sports center.
- Construction of Integrated Sports Centers: The layout and the plan of the integrated sports centers will be done by an expert sports design firm. We are already in discussion with a design firm, which has developed excellent complexes in Ghana.
- Setting Up Integrated Sport Centers: Our team will be setting up a total of 3 integrated sport centers in Ghana to provide the best sports facilities in the country. The Integrated Sport Centers will be developed to offer holistic development of youth in the country. The Integrated Sport Centers will not only help in promoting sports amongst the communities but will also enhance Ghana’s participation in International and Regional Sporting events. The sports centers will inculcate necessary life skills amongst the youth so as to improve their wellbeing. The integrated ports center will cater to both outdoor and indoor games. Each center will have the following:
- Composite Football Playfield
- Cricket Playfield with pitch
- Concrete Basketball Court with upright post and synthetic backboards
- Volleyball and Basketball courts.
- Tennis Courts
- Indoor Sports Training Facility with Wooden Flooring
- 8 lane swimming pool
- Indoor Shooting Range
- 50 Bedded Sports Hostel
- Multipurpose Gymnasium
- Fitness Center
Awareness Session: Our project staff shall conduct a mass awareness drive in the project sites, to sensitize the communities about the importance of sports in the social and economic development of a region.
Develop promotional materials: Our team will develop ICT material for creating awareness about the importance of participation in Sports.
Produce and broadcast special community programmes: We will produce and broadcast special community awareness programs to discuss the importance of sports and games for youth development and welfare.
Organize consultation meetings with the target communities: During the first quarter, we will be conducting a series of community consultations with the target population. Community consultations will also help in identifying talented youth, who will be trained in the center.
Organizing Sports Events: We shall be organising a series of sports events across various cities and towns, so as to mobilize the youth and communities in the area. These sports events will help in community development and cohesion. Some of the events that we have planned include:
- Marathons
- Local Village level Cricket, Volleyball and Football Matches
- Cycling Race
Improving sports activities in Schools and Colleges: Studies suggest that sports can help in building children’s character and moral values. Through the project we shall be promoting active sports in different schools and colleges. Participation in these events will benefit the children and youth and shall make them realise the importance of sports. Also during these events we will be identifying talented children to be trained in the integrated sports center. Through these sports events, children will learn valuable life lessons about teamwork, cooperation, confidence, responsibility, hard work, and fitness.
Conducting Sports Development Training Classes: We shall be selecting over 250 youth and young children to be trained in the sports center. Experts and sports players will be hired to train the selected youth in different sports. In the sports center we shall be providing mentoring to the selected youth to help them in enhancing their skills so that they are able to pursue their passion for different sports. Our trainers will improve the athletic performance of the individuals and prepare them for various national and international sport events. During the training sessions, the trainees will develop basic athletic fundamentals of body awareness, coordination, balance, speed, strength, and agility to maximize their abilities, reduce injuries. Special lecture series on maintaining good diet and nutrition shall also be imparted in the sport center.
Participation in National and International Events: Trained youth from our centers will participate in various sporting events. Our project incharge will ensure that the trainees participate in various events. We shall also arrange for getting adequate sponsorship for the individuals to participate in various sports championships.
Expected Project Outcome
- Selected youth and children will be trained and equipped with improved sports skills that will help them in career development.
- Training activities shall encourage the spirit of competition and especially self-challenge in all participants. This will lead to improved personalities amongst the trainees.
- Reduced incidence of substance abuse amongst the youth.
- Improved awareness amongst the youth about the importance of sports and realization that sports can give them a future.
- Improved participation of youth in various sporting events both at national, regional and international levels.
Human Resources
XYZ foundation shall appoint the following team for each of the integrated sports centers. This team will be responsible for the effective implementation of the project and will ensure the smooth functioning of the center.
- Project Incharge -1
- Center Incharge -1
- Coaches – 4
- Diet and Health Mentor -1
- Security – 1
