Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ventures that people are involved in in the favelas in Brazil - and how much sport can make
a difference.
“These kids do not have the opportunity to enjoy sports in an environment that we are used
to here - and they are desperate for your help. As well as giving them an environment
in which to play and learn games, they also learn motivation, team work and enthusiasm
which is tough to get elsewhere.”
As a sports-coaching volunteer, you will have the opportunity to help build communities
through sport. For example, in working with a local football academy in Ghana, you will
be able to establish relationships with young players who often have a fantastic talent and
profound love of the game - but have been unable to progress because of a lack of physical
training, emotional guidance and financial support. Giving them the opportunity to develop
both their skills and their character can be a life-changing experience.
Even without formal coaching qualifications, you can offer them constructive advice and
new ideas on tactics, skills and their mental approach to training and competition, simply
by arriving with enthusiasm, imagination and a general understanding of the game.
Development may not simply be about coaching. It may also involve education to under-
stand how and why their ideas count, perhaps even some time as an English language teach-
er. On the best placements, you'll find yourself contributing to community development, in
sport and beyond.
“It is hard to put into words how moving it is to teach these kids, who have so very little,
the enjoyment of sports,” Anne says.
“To see them progress with each session is an amazing experience, and you will work
through that with them; from the frustration of not understanding something the first time,
to the joy of being able to learn a new trick or a skill. These sports sessions give each child
a moment of happiness and release, which is one of the greatest things that you could give
someone.”
The attributes you need depend on the activity you go for. If it involves teaching kids,
you'll obviously need to have empathy with children, and if it involves a lot of hardcore
activity, you'll need to be reasonably fit and resilient.
Even if the sport has nothing to do with your future career path, it will boost your CV. Bet-
ter still, if in an interview you can make an energetic case for why you did it, it will make
you stand out above others who have sat around on their bums in the summer. It can only
impress a future employer.
In the developing world, sport is often more than just competition or idle pastime. Often
sport can have a real impact at the heart of communities, and play a pivotal role in the
health and prosperity of the people.
