PROJECT OVERVIEW

Building on several years of grassroots intervention combining child protection, psychosocial support, education and sport, the organisation is currently entering a scaling-up phase through the development of a Fencing & Restorative Justice Academy.

The project leverages fencing (escrime) as a powerful educational and rehabilitative tool, combined with restorative justice principles, to support:

• Emotional regulation,
• Respect of rules and others,
• Non-violent conflict resolution,
• Accountability and personal responsibility.

The Academy is designed as a structured, replicable model integrating sport practice, psychosocial support, education and justice-oriented rehabilitation pathways. It targets children and youth facing judicial, social or community-level conflict, offering an alternative pathway to exclusion, recidivism or institutionalisation.

Project Objectives

• Use fencing as a structured educational sport to foster discipline, self-control, confidence and mutual respect.
• Integrate restorative justice methodologies to help young beneficiaries understand harm, rebuild trust and reintegrate into their communities.
• Provide safe, structured environments for vulnerable youth, reducing exposure to violence and delinquency.
• Build a scalable academy model that can be replicated in other regions of Senegal in partnership with justice, education and sport institutions.

Sport Component – Fencing Academy

• Regular fencing training sessions adapted to youth and beginners
• Certified coaches trained in child protection and trauma-informed practice
• Progressive pathways: initiation → regular practice → competition / mentoring roles

Restorative Justice Component

• Facilitated dialogue sessions (youth, families, communities)
• Conflict mediation workshops linked to sport practice
• Collaboration with social workers, psychologists and justice actors

Education & Life Skills

• Life-skills modules: emotional management, respect, responsibility, teamwork
• Academic follow-up or reintegration into school or vocational pathways

Institutional & Community Linkages

• Coordination with juvenile justice systems, child protection services and local authorities
• Engagement of families and communities to ensure long-term reintegration

Target Beneficiaries

• Children and adolescents (approx. 10–18 years old)
• Youth in conflict with the law or at risk of delinquency
• Vulnerable children exposed to violence, exclusion or psychosocial trauma
• Indirect beneficiaries: families, communities, educators and justice stakeholders

Scale-Up Strategy

The Fencing & Restorative Justice Academy represents a strategic scale-up phase for the organisation, moving from isolated interventions to a structured, permanent and replicable model. The scaling strategy includes:

• Establishment of a core academy (pilot site)
• Development of standardised training curricula (sport + justice)
• Capacity-building of coaches, social workers and facilitators
• Progressive replication in other urban and peri-urban areas of Senegal

TARGET IMPACTS

• 100–200 children trained annually in structured fencing practice (pilot phase)
• Improved physical health, emotional regulation and self-confidence
• Reduction in recidivism risks among participating youth
• Improved conflict-resolution skills and accountability
• Strengthened links between youth, families and communities
• Increased school retention or reintegration rates
• Development of transferable life skills (discipline, respect, focus)
• Reinforced collaboration between sport actors, justice institutions and social services

Photo credit: @PLSE