MINISTRY OF SPORT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Collective efficacy is a sociological concept that defines the degree to which communities are cohesive and engage in their own social regulation. The presence of higher levels of collective efficacy is associated with superior community outcomes including lower levels of crime and violence; lower levels of social fragmentation; improved health outcomes among other important socio-economic experiences.

Vulnerable communities, that is, communities displaying a high level of needs for infrastructural development, poorer quality housing and amenities and where households have high levels of social welfare dependence, unemployment or under-employment. Such communities may be good candidates for sport for development programming focused on building community cohesion, encouraging dialogue and civic participation as a means of growing collective efficacy and strengthening the capacity of the community to take control of their space for positive outcomes.

Accordingly, there will be need to identify appropriate local, regional or international examples and case studies where sport programming was used to improve community cohesiveness and engagement in social regulation of the community.

Children and youth respectively, have enormous potential for benefit and growth using sport. It is no secret that in Trinidad and Tobago, many of the nation’s children exist in very debilitating situations. The reports to the Children’s Authority Hotlines outlines an alarming number of over 4000 reports of abuse annually, which have increased exponentially during the stay at home measures. A related report indicated that of the 4000 cases in 2019, 22.6% were for sexual abuse, 20.6% were for neglect and 14.3% for physical abuse. Recognising that reported cases are typically only a subset of actual cases, this suggests that too many home environments are not serving as places of safety for the nation’s children. International research also indicates that the issue of a lack of familial attachment is a key marker for juvenile delinquency, adverse social-social patterns, violence and attraction to criminal lifestyles.

 
Sport programmes targeting children and youth can potentially expose children to escape activity, role models and mentors, structure and discipline and improved self-esteem that could change the trajectory of their lives. The CDPF V can provide an opportunity to identify successful sport interventions and best practices that could enhance the capacity of sport and community development practitioners to provide innovative sport programming to help the nation’s children and youth.

Sport has the power to change the lives of women and girls by teaching them teamwork, self-reliance, resilience and confidence. Sport is one of the great drivers of gender equality. Women in sport defy gender stereotypes and social norms, make inspiring role models, while reinforcing that men and women are equal.

However, as a developing nation, Trinidad and Tobago has inherited many of the hegemonic masculine traditions and false perceptions passed down throughout the history of sport. As a result, Government has led the way in encouraging and supporting the participation of women and girls’ in sport as well as their longterm development in and through sport. The ‘’Pink Reign Campaign” is one such initiative championed by the Government which allows communities to gain access to seminars, workshops and fun activities that are tailored for women and girls and which will aid in the reassurance factor to women and girls regarding their roles and importance in the world of sport.

The objective of the CDPF V is to foment more of this type of initiative led by both the Government and civil society, thereby expanding the opportunities for (i) the dismantling of gender stereotypes in sport; (ii) for women and girls to achieve excellence in sport; and (iii) for women and girls to engage with already successful women who will mentor and facilitate the holistic development of these women and girls using sport as the medium.

Sport has historically been given a priority position in the lives of most men and boys. Sport has played a tremendous role in defining men’s conception of masculinity. It has the potential to influence and impact the minds and behavior of our men and boys with respect to issues of violence, gender equity and emotional and physical wellbeing.

CDPF-V will seek to explore the issues faced by policymakers, sport and community practitioners on how to harness the positive and transformative aspects of sport in the lives of men and boys. The Forum will invite new discussion around the issues of male marginalization, misplaced masculinity and gun culture versus sport culture as a catalyst for power.

We intend to continue the dialogue about moving forward with efforts that actively engage men and boys in challenging power dynamics in their own lives as well as in their communities. To frame the discussion in this ongoing topic of men and boys, CDPF-V will address issues in the context of Sport for Development, such as: linkages between gender, masculinity, and power; productive social and cultural norms about masculinity, gun culture and power; and the inclusion of men and boys in a shared vision of gender equality so as to transform prevalent notions of masculinity.

Persons with Disabilities refers to individuals who experience long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Data provided in the 2011 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Office revealed that approximately 52,244 persons are living with a disability in Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, PWDs accounts for 4% of the total population size of 1,328,019. The number of cases of disabilities for females were slightly higher, 26,234 than males, 26,010.

 
Sport is used as a platform by persons with disabilities to express their abilities and talents. However, persons with disabilities face a number of challenges in sport these include; (i) limited local sport facilities that cater to the needs of persons with disabilities, (ii) limited and equal funding to athletes with disabilities and (iii) marginalisation of persons with disabilities in the space of sport. The National Sport Policy 2017-2027, outlines in its objectives the aim to upgrade and implement provisions for the aged and differently-abled individuals at all sports facilities.

 
As such, CDPF V will seek to explore and address how sport can be used as a tool for the empowerment of persons with disabilities, and provide a learning opportunity for development and sport practitioners to treat with this group in a manner that would result in improved integration and inclusion in society. 

Trinidad and Tobago has an aging population. Over the past years there has been an increase in what is called sportification. The notion of sportification refers to a growing number of people that have become involved in sporting activities over the past decades and to the related diversification of those activities and settings. The group that has most adapted to this notion seems to be that of elderly persons.

 
Elderly persons are now a key are part of this sportification process as there has been a growing number of those who are members of sports club or participate in a commercial sport setting. Thus, information regarding the health and wellness benefits should be circulated to those who have not yet joined the movement of sportification as well as those who are already there. This will aid in the understanding of what sports and physical activity offers the elderly on both a direct and indirect level.

Programs that outline the various direct and indirect health and wellness benefits could be the focus of engagement for elders, as well as opportunities for productive aging.