Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia
The Colombianitos Foundation (CF) is a pioneering youth development organization that utilizes football as a pedagogical instrument to promote life skills, civic values, and social inclusion in vulnerable communities across Colombia. This study aims to challenge the foundational assumption that spor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1504966/full |
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| author | Pedro Danilo Ponciano Núñez Alexis Lyras Carlos Matus-Castillo Frano Giakoni-Ramírez Daniel Duclos-Bastias Daniel Duclos-Bastias |
| author_facet | Pedro Danilo Ponciano Núñez Alexis Lyras Carlos Matus-Castillo Frano Giakoni-Ramírez Daniel Duclos-Bastias Daniel Duclos-Bastias |
| author_sort | Pedro Danilo Ponciano Núñez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Colombianitos Foundation (CF) is a pioneering youth development organization that utilizes football as a pedagogical instrument to promote life skills, civic values, and social inclusion in vulnerable communities across Colombia. This study aims to challenge the foundational assumption that sport can catalyze positive change and impart civic values, by investigating the perceived change and efficacy of the CFs Goals for a Better Life program on positive youth development in Colombia. Employing a qualitative research methodology, 28 in-depth interviews with administrators and coaches were conducted, followed by a content analysis to identify thematic patterns. The findings reveal CF's transformative capacity in cultivating human capital, social and societal capital, and distinct programmatic characteristics. CF's interventions foster significant behavioral changes, such as improved conflict resolution and non-violent communication, while promoting essential life skills and social cohesion. Moreover, the study illustrates CF's role in generating a ripple effect, wherein the benefits extend beyond individual participants to their families and the broader community. CF challenges entrenched gender norms through its mixed-gender team structure, aligning with SDG 5, and demonstrates a commitment to fostering peaceful, inclusive societies in line with SDG 16. By grounding its approach in evidence-based evaluation and leveraging strategic partnerships, CF exemplifies a sustainable model of sport-for-development. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of sport's potential to drive long-term social transformation, offering empirical insights for future research and intervention design in post-conflict and marginalized settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-69853d3579ae4672a67a3582c7f3425e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-69853d3579ae4672a67a3582c7f3425e2025-08-20T02:37:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-11-01610.3389/fspor.2024.15049661504966Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in ColombiaPedro Danilo Ponciano Núñez0Alexis Lyras1Carlos Matus-Castillo2Frano Giakoni-Ramírez3Daniel Duclos-Bastias4Daniel Duclos-Bastias5Departament of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, GuatemalaSchool of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Maryland City, MD, United StatesDepartment of Sports Sciences and Physical Conditioning, Faculty of Education, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepcion, Concepcion, ChileFaculty of Education and Social Science, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, ChileiGEO Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, ChileIGOID Research Group, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, EspañaThe Colombianitos Foundation (CF) is a pioneering youth development organization that utilizes football as a pedagogical instrument to promote life skills, civic values, and social inclusion in vulnerable communities across Colombia. This study aims to challenge the foundational assumption that sport can catalyze positive change and impart civic values, by investigating the perceived change and efficacy of the CFs Goals for a Better Life program on positive youth development in Colombia. Employing a qualitative research methodology, 28 in-depth interviews with administrators and coaches were conducted, followed by a content analysis to identify thematic patterns. The findings reveal CF's transformative capacity in cultivating human capital, social and societal capital, and distinct programmatic characteristics. CF's interventions foster significant behavioral changes, such as improved conflict resolution and non-violent communication, while promoting essential life skills and social cohesion. Moreover, the study illustrates CF's role in generating a ripple effect, wherein the benefits extend beyond individual participants to their families and the broader community. CF challenges entrenched gender norms through its mixed-gender team structure, aligning with SDG 5, and demonstrates a commitment to fostering peaceful, inclusive societies in line with SDG 16. By grounding its approach in evidence-based evaluation and leveraging strategic partnerships, CF exemplifies a sustainable model of sport-for-development. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of sport's potential to drive long-term social transformation, offering empirical insights for future research and intervention design in post-conflict and marginalized settings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1504966/fulllife skillscivic valuesyouth developmentsports educationsport-for-development theorynon-governmental organization |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Danilo Ponciano Núñez Alexis Lyras Carlos Matus-Castillo Frano Giakoni-Ramírez Daniel Duclos-Bastias Daniel Duclos-Bastias Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia Frontiers in Sports and Active Living life skills civic values youth development sports education sport-for-development theory non-governmental organization |
| title | Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia |
| title_full | Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia |
| title_fullStr | Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia |
| title_short | Ripples of change: transforming lives and communities through sport in Colombia |
| title_sort | ripples of change transforming lives and communities through sport in colombia |
| topic | life skills civic values youth development sports education sport-for-development theory non-governmental organization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1504966/full |
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