Global/Regional
Sports for Life
Sports for Life (SFL) is an international health program using sports to involve youth and young adults in reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities. SFL is a unique partnership of athletes, sports associations, youth organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, health facilities and public and private organizations. Youth leaders and educators become SFL Coaches and work in their communities with other local youth as peer role models to promote messages that lead to and maintain positive health behaviors. Since 1996, Sports for Life has run programs in over 30 countries. SFL's intended audience is girls and boys, aged 10-24.
- SFL role model/peer educators, the program’s end-users, develop the life skills necessary to assess their risk for conditions such as unintended pregnancy, HIV and STIs, develop informed decision making skills, and adopt new safer and healthier behaviors to lead long and productive lives.
- SFL builds relationships with local secondary schools and youth organizations to develop youth leaders around reproductive health and family planning issues.
- SFL conducts advocacy visits to community leaders to ensure appropriate entry into the communities and their various cultural and religious stakeholders and develops private-sector partners to help support and sustain local SFL programs and clubs.
- SFL also strengthens relationships with local community mobilizers to enhance access to hard-to-reach youth populations largely out-of-school and unemployed.
In Ethiopia, The Sports for Life approach was adapted by adding gender issues and appropriate languages. In July 2004, HCP hosted a series of four regional workshops for soccer teams leaders/captains, coaches, and Ambassadors. The Ambassadors were HCP Sports for Life staff who mastered the training skills and then begin to roll out their own workshops.
In Namibia, Sports for Life trains coaches and peer educators to work in their communities with local youth to spread awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS, risk behaviors and reproductive health issues. The Namibian Sports Commission and the Ministry of Basic Education, Sports and Culture (MBESC) incorporated this program into the community sports structures.
In Honduras, HCP promoted the Sports for Life initiative, which used the fun and principles of sports to develop life skills for in- and out-of-school youth.
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