Social inclusion in Johannesburg through sport

Context

The city of Johannesburg faces many challenges: social inequality, discrimination, unemployment, violence and poverty, particularly in the inner city. In light of this situation, the city has launched an ambitious inner-city revitalisation plan. In this context, the Sport for Social Change Network (SSCN) has been mobilised to support the strategy being implemented by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
The objective is to participate in the regeneration of inner-city parks by organising sports and recreational activities, thereby helping to enhance the value of these spaces and reduce acts of violence and crime committed in them.

After a successful trial in Nugget Park and End Street Park, the decision was made to extend the scheme to a further eight inner-city parks and to recruit 18 young coaches to coordinate the activities. The SSCN also intends to acquire a van so that it can take its sports activities and equipment to remote parts of the city and the surrounding areas.

Goals

• Support Johannesburg’s strategy to regenerate inner-city parks with a view to enhancing the value of these spaces and reducing acts of violence and crime committed in them
• Foster the social and professional integration of young people through sport
• Encourage local communities, especially young people, to take part in regular physical activity
• Promote the well-being and social cohesion of local communities

Activities

• 18 young coaches from the inner city trained by the SSCN to organise sports and recreational activities in 10 Johannesburg parks
• Purchase of a van and sports equipment to hold roving events promoting physical activity outside the city centre
• Collaboration with several inner-city NGOs to support their youth sports initiatives and facilitate the sharing of experiences on park management and social cohesion through sport

Impacts

• Several thousand young participants in SSCN activities every year
• Improving the lives of local people and reducing social inequalities
• 18 young people trained and employed by the SSCN

Funding

• A project supported by the Agence Française de Développement

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Photo credits : @SSCN