The Government of Canada is committed to sport and play as powerful tools to achieving health, education and conflict-resolution goals in developing countries.
To mark the first International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Canada announced today $5.3 million to Right To Play for the Advancing Health, Education and Development for Children and Youth (AHEAD) project in West and Francophone Africa.
Canada’s support over the coming year will contribute to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of more than 235,000 vulnerable children and youth, particularly girls, in Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Mali and Rwanda through:
- twice-weekly sport and play activities;
- establishing child and youth-led groups such as clubs and sport leagues;
- training for teachers, coaches, caregivers and children and youth in health, education, gender equality, inclusion and child protection; and
- constructing and rehabilitating gender-sensitive play spaces, classrooms and sanitation facilities.
The AHEAD project will also encourage teachers, coaches and community members to use the sport and play approach to support the healthy development of children and youth in their communities.
Canada and Right to Play have been working together for 12 years in the area of sport for development.
Right To Play is a Toronto-based international organization that uses sport and play to educate and empower vulnerable children and youth in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
