Exploring the training and development of sport-for development and peace practitioners in South Africa: a case study of field workers’ experiences from two civil society organisations

Abstract

Despite the increasing popularity of sport-for-development and peace programmes in South Africa, to the researcher’s knowledge, limited studies have been conducted that examine the capacity of sport-for-development and peace actors to conceptualise, design, deliver and manage quality, contextually relevant and sustainable programmes. The primary beneficiaries of sport-for-development and peace programmes are overwhelmingly vulnerable and at-risk youth and adolescents, so appropriate programming (design, curriculum, approaches, delivery) needs to be led by adequately trained and qualified people. These programmes have the potential to influence the trajectory of a young person’s life, as that period in their development offers a unique opportunity to shape their cognitive, social and moral development. The challenge that exists is that the sport-for-development and peace sector is generally uncoordinated and unregulated, so there is no reason why inadequately trained (or untrained) and unqualified (or underqualified) personnel could not find themselves in positions of influence, programme implementation and/or decision making within the sector. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine the training and development opportunities offered to coaches, facilitators or coordinators as field workers working directly with programme beneficiaries within sport-for-development and peace programmes in South Africa, as well as to explore the experiences and benefits related to these training and development opportunities.