Youth Sport Trust founder and President, Sir John Beckwith, and Chief Executive, John Steele, will visit Jamaica from 15-20 October to launch a youth leadership project, which is part of the Trust's international work.
The Beckwith International Leadership Development (BILD) programme, which also runs in Tanzania, Ghana and St Lucia, supports countries to develop the sports leadership skills of PE teachers, coaches, community sports leaders and young leaders. BILD Jamaica is managed by International Inspiration in partnership with Youth Sport Trust International and funded by the TOP Foundation.
Jamaica has a high proportion of young people who are considered 'unattached' with a number of 16-25 year olds dropping out of education and some turning to gang related crime. Unemployment is also high at over 13%. Working with GC Foster College, the leading PE and sports college in Jamaica, the Youth Sport Trust is using a sports leadership training programme as a way of tackling the rising issues facing unattached young people.
The project will train and up skill local teachers, members of the community and young people to understand how, through high quality sports leadership, the employability, life skills and engagement of young people in society can be enhanced. Through BILD in Jamaica, the Trust is aiming to reach 250,000 young people in the country by 2017.
During their visit, both Sir John and Mr Steele will observe leadership training with teachers and young leaders. They will also attend a sports festival, organised by students trained through the programme and talk to young people who are at risk of becoming involved in gang related crime or dropping out of education, about how the project can support them.
Sir John Beckwith, President and founder of the Youth Sport Trust said:
"For over 10 years, we have worked with some inspirational teachers around the world, who empower young people to be sports leaders within their communities.
"We are incredibly proud to launch BILD in Jamaica and hope that this project will help to improve the lives of vulnerable young people, particularly their behaviour, life skills, school attendance, employability and health."
