BWF embarked on a unique partnership with United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) by delivering a well-received session on ‘Breaking Down Barriers in Sport’ recently.
BWF’s Development Manager John Shearer conducted a one-day Shuttle Time training session at the UN’s Youth Leadership Camp in Berlin, Germany, on 15 April. The two-week camp was attended by 28 Youth Leaders from 19 countries, besides trainers from other International Federations and organisations.
BWF was asked to deliver a practical session which was underpinned by a social sporting theme. The session delivered included discussions and group work on how to overcome issues such as lack of equipment, facilities and educated deliverers.
The morning session was an introduction to badminton, problems that deter people from taking up the sport, and ways to solve those problems. With the lack of equipment and courts a common concern in many communities, the session focussed around making rackets and shuttlecocks with commonly available materials such as cardboard and paper, and marking courts with chalk or tape. The afternoon session was held on court, with several of the participants getting to play the sport for the first time.
The session was evaluated the next day. Youth Leaders were positive about the benefits of the session; those from Ghana, Kenya, Gambia and Tanzania indicated that they would like to use Shuttle Time and badminton as an activity to support youth in their communities. The eight Youth Leaders were asked to complete a simple project plan on how they would use badminton in their community. Plans submitted identified that badminton would be used to, among other things, encourage students to remain in school instead of dropping out; increase female participation in sport and tackle teenage pregnancy; provide education on the rights of women, and allow participation in sport for those with physical and/or learning disabilities.
Ben Taylor, Programme Officer at UNOSDP, was elated at the impact of the session.
“The UN is thrilled to be working in partnership with the BWF. The Shuttle Time session received excellent feedback from our Youth Leaders, many of whom had never played or seen badminton before. We look forward to developing our relationship with BWF and receiving their expert input at future Youth Leadership Camps,” said Taylor.
Each of the eight Youth Leaders who submitted a plan received five rackets, shuttlecocks and a net to help them start badminton in their community. BWF will also initiate contact between them and their National Badminton Association (where there is one).
BWF will deliver at two more camps this year in Colombia and USA, where the UN will film activities and chart the future of the programme in 2016.
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