Sportswork Refugee Project

Implementing Partners: American Refugee Committee International with a subgrant to Right to Play

Funding Period: January 2005 - March 2009

Amount: $1,540,512

Purpose: Provide refugee children with access to regular and inclusive sport and play to enhance their physical and psychosocial development.

Accomplishments

• Ensured that during the school year up to 6,000 children participate in physical education (PE) on a weekly basis. Within the community, up to 2,900 children participate in specialized training (ST) weekly.
• Organized monthly Play Days—with a focus on Red Ball Child Play games—in Ban Don Yang, Nu Po, and Umpiem Mai; between 50 and 250 children participate. Play Days with a health education focus are held in Ban Don Yang and NuPo. In each site, more than 100 children participate.
• Trained master trainers, coach trainers, and teacher trainers in program management and RTP programs; more than 180 ST coaches and 120 PE teachers have been trained in and are responsible for implementing ST, PE, and Play Day activities.
• Constructed multi-function concrete play areas in Nu Po and Umpium so that sport and play activities can take place all year, even during the wet season.

Right To Play first began implementing the SportWorks Refugee Program in Thailand in June 2002. The American Refugee Committee brings to the partnership primary health care services. The project implements sport and play activities in four refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. There, the project trains camp members to conduct structured sport and play activities for children and youth. Staff members provide weekly training and capacity building for volunteers and teacher.

The project aims to provide all children in the camps—including girls and children with disabilities—with life, leadership, and communication skills, as well as a sense of discipline and fair play.