Why Sport Coach+ focuses on displacement and other adversity
Forcible displacement due to war, persecution, violence and human rights violations currently affects over 120 million people globally (Global Trends UNHCR). An estimated 40% of those are young people below the age of 18 who have been displaced from their homes, communities, friends, ways of life, and away from feelings of safety and belonging. Serious stresses early in life, such as displacement and other adversity, can impact young people’s physical, mental and emotional well-being at a time when their brains and bodies are developing in important ways.
Sport coaches are in a unique position to engage young people affected by displacement in trauma-informed and healing ways, and to be positive mentors in their lives. Safe and supportive sports can help young people overcome the negative effects of displacement and other adversity, and support their abilities to learn, grow, form healthy relationships, and gain skills to effectively navigate life challenges in the future.
Sport Coach+ Partners
Sport Coach+ is the result of a partnership between the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub (MHPSS Hub).
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub (MHPSS Hub) contributes knowledge and provides service to the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
It assists in facilitating mental health and psychosocial support, promotes psychosocial well-being for affected groups, staff, and volunteers, and increases awareness of psychological reactions in times of crisis or social disruption.
Olympic Refuge Foundation
The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) is a non-governmental organization founded in 2017 by the International Olympic Committee. The ORF believes in a society where everyone belongs, through sport and is working to shape a movement that ensures young people affected by displacement thrive through sport.
Writing team
Leslie Snider (Olympic Refuge Foundation, Think Tank), Melanie Powell (MHPSS Hub) and Megan Bartlett (Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS).
Editorial team
Anna Tarsetti, Pia Tingsted Blum and Wendy Ager (MHPSS Hub); Jeroen Carrin, Sabine Hazboun, Andi Jacobs and Kathleen Latimer (ORF).
Reviewers and Contributors
The team has been supported throughout by a technical reference group comprising members of the Olympic Refuge Foundation Think Tank, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub, the Olympic Refuge Foundation implementing partners and collaborators.
From the Olympic Refuge Foundation Think Tank:
Alastair Ager, Ajwang Warria, Simon Rosenbaum, Sabrina Hermosilla, Davy Vancampfort, Holly Collison-Randall, Anna Farello, Maria Bray, Jadranka Stikovac-Clark and Grace Gatera.
From the MHPSS Hub:
Sarah Harrison.
From our community of coaches and expert partners:
Anne Méaux (Play International), Simoné Etna (Kabubu), Julia Lambrecht and Lea Hinnen (Scort Foundation), Cristina Vasilianov and Zalina Marghieva (Moldova National Olympic Committee), Dorota Bandurska (Instytut Sportu – PiB), Iulia Durlestean (Moldovan Squash Federation), Scott Sloan and Tine Vertommen (International Olympic Committee), Sven Spannekrebs (Yusra Mardini Foundation).
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