ICSSPE NewsNo.52
January 2008
 
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ICSSPE’s First International Seminar on
Sport in Post-Disaster Intervention
Jackie Lauff

 

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
Jackie Lauff & Katrin Koenen
ICSSPE Executive Office
Berlin, Germany
Email: kkoenen@icsspe.org





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