What We Do / Sport for Development Overview

Partners believes in the power of sport to change lives. Whether using sport as a tool for youth employment, health, social inclusion or for positive youth development, Partners’ programs utilize the power and passion of sport-based activities to help individuals, families, communities and businesses mobilize for good. For the past 30 years, Partners has led sport-related exchange programs involving over youth and coaches from all over the Western Hemisphere, connecting them with counterparts in different US states.  Partners has emerged as a global leader in Sport for Development and Youth Workforce Development through the A Ganar Alliance and other initiatives detailed below.  

 

  • A Ganar Alliance: Over 8,500 youth have participated in A Ganar youth workforce development training that uses the best lessons from sport. After graduating from training, 70% find jobs, start their own business, or return to school. In Brazil, Partners and the Nike Foundation developed the Vencedoras version of A Ganar focusing specifically on adolescent girls and young women. By 2014, A Ganar/Vencedoras will have trained over 12,000 youth in 15 different countries. The A Ganar Alliance is supported by USAID, the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) and several other donors.

 

  • Youth Sports Management Exchange Program (YSME): From 2009 -2011, the U.S. State Department supported YSME program strengthened the ability of local community and community organizations in Colombia and Ecuador to provide sustainable sports programs for youth and increase the linkage between athletic and academic achievement. In total, 39 exchanges took place between Colombia (17) and Ecuador (8) with the United States (14).

 

  • Coaching Coaches Program: From 2008 – 2009, the State Department Coaching Coaches Program brought 15 Brazilian coaches to the United States to learn techniques that would allow them to better serve the needs and interests of marginalized youth in their communities. Reciprocal exchanges for 11 US coaches were conducted as part of the follow-on program. 

 

  • International Sports Management Baseball Exchange: Implemented from 2007 through 2008, the State Department supported baseball exchange strengthened the ability of local communities and community organizations in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Venezuela to provide sustainable sports programs for youth and increase the linkage between athletic achievements and academic achievements. 

 

  • Triple Play Baseball Exchange: Implemented in 2006, this State Department supported program brought a total of 14 coaches, players and press from Venezuela and Nicaragua to the World Baseball Classic in Orlando, Florida, and then to Washington D.C.  Program objectives included exchanging ideas with North American youth, coaches, and other sports officials.

 

  • Coaching Coaches Exchange: From 2002- 2003, the State Department supported Coaching Coaches program reached over 1,350 participants through fifteen exchanges involving twelve countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Partners’ emphasized diversity in every aspect of the program, including the travelers, participants and types of sports. Exchanges focused on people with disabilities, sports medicine, swimming, soccer and basketball.