Promotion of Women’s Collective Sports in the Commune of Tône 1 in Togo

Context

Similar to the Olympic Games, team sport is a link between communities. It promotes joy and living together/social cohesion and health. Beyond that, sport can become a profession for young people. However, it should be noted that in the Savannah region of northern Togo, sport is generally relegated to the background. Thus, during the implementation of development programmes in the commune of Tône 1, the only existing sports association, supported by the civil society invited for this purpose, demanded that sport should be a priority in the development programmes. It is noticeable that hand sports (basketball, handball, volleyball, table tennis, etc.) are almost non-existent. Meanwhile, there is an infatuation of young girls and boys with these sports.

Objectives

• Promote women’s collective sports in the commune of Tône 1
• Contribute to the access to physical activity in order to prevent physical and psychological diseases
• Contribute to improving access to quality education through sport
• Promote gender equality and girls and women empowerment through sport
• Encourage young people to think about sports professions as coaches or professional players     

Activities

• Information, education, project communication and community mobilisation
• Provision of equipment (posts, nets, tennis tables, goals) and sports materials (shirts, balls, rackets, shirts etc.)
• Establishment of a management team made up of people in charge of each discipline and reinforcement of their capacities for a better organisation of the beneficiaries and a rational management of the works and equipment

 Impact

• 400 direct beneficiaries of the project, including 220 girls (5 to 25 years old), 100 boys (5 to 25 years old) and 80 adults (all sexes, 25 years old and over) from various social backgrounds and professions
• Contribution to the prevention of obesity in children and the reduction of body fat in adults.
• Encouraging exchange between people of different cultures, professions and to develop conviviality
• Well-structured teams in all disciplines that can compete externally

 Photo credit:  Avenir des Jeunes Filles de Dapaong