![]() | ICSSPE News | No.52 January 2008 |
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Following the devastating impact of the tsunami in South East Asia, ICSSPE
introduced a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging the use of sport
in disaster-affected regions. The most recent development was the First
International Seminar on Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention that took
place in Rheinsberg, Germany, from 4 to 9 November 2007. The seminar was
the first of its kind aimed at providing training for professionals working,
or planning to work, in disaster response on how to develop sport and
physical activity programmes in the early stages of disaster relief.
Sport and physical activity can play a valuable role in helping people
affected by disaster by providing a unique outlet for psychosocial intervention
to help overcome trauma. As both natural and man-made disasters continue
to affect many millions of people across the world, this training seminar
was an important first step in encouraging the implementation of sport
and physical activity programmes in post-disaster intervention. It is
well aligned with ICSSPE’s aim to develop physical activity, physical
education and sport in all countries of the world and create more opportunities
for participation.
The seminar was developed in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of
the Interior, Germany, and with the partnership of Kennesaw State University
(USA), Fürst Donnersmarck-Foundation, Deutches Rotes Kreuz and the
Freie Universität Berlin. The spectacular Haus Rheinsberg provided
a perfect backdrop for the seminar. This unique, barrier-free facility
with fully accessible conference and sporting facilities was well suited
to the delivery of this training seminar.
The week-long seminar programme included 33 hours of hands-on training
covering topics such as disaster management, sport and physical activity,
didactics, adapted physical activity, culture, psychology, social work
and occupational therapy with specific emphasis on the role and impact
of these areas in post-disaster intervention. The participants also conducted
a group exercise in which they developed a sport and physical activity
programme in response to a number of hypothetical disaster scenarios.
In total, seventy-eight participants attended the seminar, representing
over twenty countries. Participants came from a range of professional
backgrounds and disciplines including social work, sport management, physical
education, disaster relief organisations and various university faculties.
Each session had a strong focus on participation and hands-on experiences
in order to develop both theoretical and practical capacities of each
participant.
The practical learning activities encouraged an exchange of knowledge
and information from across the world and between the speakers and participants,
a wealth of professional and personal experiences emerged throughout the
seminar. Ms Marianne Meier from the Swiss Academy for Development shared
some examples of good practice including a sport and play programme developed
after the earthquake in Bam, Iran. Dr Alan Kirk focused on the psychological
rehabilitation after Hurricane Katrina in the USA. Mr Trevor Dudley from
The Kids League also shared some of his experiences following the long-running
civil war in Uganda and his efforts in using sport to rebuild communities,
particularly with little equipment.
Throughout the seminar, the participants were able to network in a unique multi-disciplinary environment. Culture and its influences on sport and on disaster management was a key focus area. The broad range of nations represented, including a larger group of post-graduate students from Kennesaw State University in USA, led to some interesting discussions about culture and cultural awareness. As Ms. Zaini Ahmad of the Malaysian Ministry of Education explained, “The sport in post-disaster relief seminar gave us new kinds of approaches in dealing with differences in culture, especially in our region.” The effects of a disaster on people with a disability were also explored
along with some considerations for including people with a disability
in post-disaster sport programmes. Professor Dr. Yves Vanlandewijck from
the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Ms Amy Farkas from the International
Paralympic Committee provided a number of learning experiences, practical
demonstrations and field examples all focused on adapted physical activity
and how to include people with a disability in the post-disaster setting.
The seminar programme was jam-packed with interesting and diverse sessions
that exposed the participants to a range of options that could be considered
in a post-disaster sport and physical activity programme. For example,
an early morning Qi-Gong session introduced participants to a low-impact
alternative that may be appropriate in many post-disaster settings with
different age groups. Of the overall seminar programme, Dr. Liana LeRoux
of the University of Pretoria in South Africa stated, “It expanded
my horizons on what I can use in my teaching as well as my community involvement.”
The seminar closed with a panel discussion focussed on programme administration
and organisation with representatives from the United Nations Office of
the Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, streetfootballworld,
Swiss Academy for Development, CARE International and Mercycorps. Participants
were able to discuss current initiatives in sport in post-disaster intervention
as well as touch on key issues such as funding and grant opportunities,
monitoring and evaluation and future directions and the next step for
these organisations.
To supplement the seminar sessions, ICSSPE developed a Handbook on Sport
and Physical Activity in Post-Disaster Intervention. The handbook was
designed to be used by the participants during the seminar, but is also
intended to be a useful reference guide in the field. It contains four
parts that have been designed to provide some of the practical and theoretical
information to enable disaster responders to start using sport and physical
activity in post-disaster intervention. Each part contains an introduction,
definitions and terminology, a chapter summary and useful tips on where
to find more detailed information.
The handbook includes some of the latest research which suggests that
people who have higher levels of resilience or coping capacities are better
able to overcome trauma associated with disaster. Sport and physical activity
can help build resilience by consistent contact with supportive and reliable
coaches and providing a safe environment for the expression of emotions.
Furthermore, group activities can provide much needed social interaction
that can help bring communities together after a disaster and can also
be used to relay health or educational messages to communities.
Psychosocial sport and physical activity programmes do not have a primary
focus on competition and winning but rather an emphasis on creating a
cooperative and supportive environment. Coaches of psychosocial sport
programmes provide more than sports instruction and thus require additional
training in order to be able to manage the psychological and social effects
of disaster. Importantly, coaches need to be able to recognise the signs
and symptoms of more serious responses to trauma. Sport and physical activity
can help people living in a community affected by a disaster as well as
disaster responders who often face similar trauma responses.
The concept of using sport in the disaster setting is not new and a number
of organisations and individuals have used sport as a unique method of
helping people recover from the devastating effects of a disaster. Organisations
such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Handicap
International and Right to Play have long used sport programmes following
both natural and man-made disasters. Swiss Academy for Development (SAD)
has initiated a number of projects and research for communities affected
by disasters in different parts of the world and this area is gaining
increasing international attention with particular emphasis on introducing
sport programmes in the earlier phases of disaster relief.
Participants that have completed ICSSPE’s seminar are now equipped
with some new skills and knowledge that will assist in their preparation
to work in post-disaster intervention and develop a psychosocial sport
programme in response to the specific needs of disaster-affected communities.
The seminar is intended to complement the existing training options for
disaster responders and participants were encouraged to join a disaster
management team and attend further training offered by such organisations.
Following the interest and momentum generated throughout this first seminar,
ICSSPE aims to continue to develop and promote sport and physical activity
in post-disaster intervention in order to provide better services to assist
people affected by disasters all over the world. Planning has already
begun for the second seminar that is expected to be held in November in
2008. A second edition of the handbook will be produced, and the seminar
content will be enhanced with reports of current research and programme
initiatives that are being conducted around the world.
Visit the ICSSPE website www.icsspe.org
for the latest information, to view the seminar presentations and order
your copy of the Handbook of Sport and Physical Activity in Post-Disaster
Intervention from the online bookshop (29€).
Stay tuned for further developments in this innovative area!
Contact
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