SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT

From the second half of the 20th century, and particularly from the early 21st century, the private, public, and third sectors have been utilizing sport at increasing rates to promote positive social change among young populations. The United Nations has been a prime driving force behind these initiatives through the adoption of declarations that have reinforced the rights of children to play sports. Simultaneously, the limitations of traditional development efforts to improve the lives of children have given rise to alternative methods, including sports. This trend has given rise to the emergence of the Sport for Development (SFD) discipline, which has been probing the limitations and potential of sport to serve as a vehicle for development among children and youth. As recent studies have indicated, sport is not a panacea to development, yet, it can be an effective tool to tackle various socio-economic and cultural issues. Findings from the research conducted among Ghanaian football (soccer) academies reinforce this notion. Yet, to uncover the failures and successes of sport, it is essential to include the perspectives of children and youth in the research in an ethical, reciprocal, and reflexive manner.