Coaches Across Continents caught my attention as a Sport for Development organization because it is the only one I’ve seen that has a clearly stated methodology and theory of change.
The basis for all of Coaches Across Continents' work across the globe is based on the value of equal human rights, and that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and choose their future. Our philosophy and methodology is grounded in three key UN documents and allow us to Create Legacies for a better world:
Self-Directed Learners possess attitudes such as independence of mind, confidence in their own judgment, a sense of self-esteem leading to self-actualization and the ability to cooperate and collaborate with others. They are independent thinkers who can define and solve problems, reason logically, engage in the projection of their own ideas and set goals and strategies to achieve them. They reflect upon experience and learn from it.
Dr. Judith Gates and Chief Executive Brian Suskiewicz have published an article in Soccer & Society, Soccer Changes Lives: from learned helplessness to self-directed learners.
Dr. Judith Gates first postulated that young people throughout the world go through 7 similar stages of development, from circumstances of birth and the conformity of an unquestioned lifestyle, through deepening insight, to the recognition of potential choices:
The predominant approach to change in developing countries is typically top-down, outside in, and deficit based. This frequently manifests itself in a “west knows best” approach, by which foreign experts identify what they perceive to be local community issues. Externally determined solutions are then presented to local recipients with the expectation that they will be accepted and long term change will result. The change process is thus based on primary ownership by outsiders who analyse the situation based upon their perspectives, issues external directives and seek to change local communities without input from the community itself.
Conversely the guiding principles of Coaches Across Continents’ Theory of Change. are that it should be bottom up, inside out and based on building community capacity. Change is fostered from within by empowering local partners to question previously taken for granted cultural certainties, challenge damaging local traditions and make responsible choices for their future. The Coaches Across Continents curriculum is structured to create Self-Directed Learners who have the capacity to identify, analyze and address local concerns and to see the world in a fundamentally different way.
We envision the day when all governments, corporations, foundations, schools, and communities have the skills to use sport as a social impact tool and make the choice to do so.
We ensure human rights by empowering communities with the knowledge and skills to create their own future.
• The capacity of communities to change
• The need to question harmful traditional, religious, and cultural practices
• The opportunity for women to be treated as equals in sport and society
• The power of sport and education
• The chance for children to laugh
• The ability for individuals, groups, and communities to choose their future
