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Urban sport, integration and well-being: activating youth engagement through street training

Bek La Barre Association

Since 2013, Bek la Barre has aimed to democratize sports practice, develop innovative practices and the "sport health" approach, by offering everyone the opportunity to practice a free and supervised sporting activity. The association operates mainly in the priority urban policy neighborhoods (QPV) in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Louis and Le Port, and reaches disadvantaged young people on the island by providing prevention through sport. Bek La Barre promotes the educational values of sport as a lever for inclusion and integration through the transmission of technical knowledge for sports practice but also mental knowledge.

Context

Ubuntu Street Fit

In the township of Umlazi, many young people face socioeconomic challenges and a lack of spaces for positive expression. Since 2013, the Bek La Barre association has used urban sports as a lever for the development and engagement of young people from Reunion Island. With Ubuntu Street Fit, it is taking a new step by creating a solidarity bridge with South Africa. By renovating a site dedicated to street workout, training young coaches, and promoting the exchange of practices, this project strengthens social cohesion and the mental and physical health of young people, offering a new boost to integration through sport.

Country: South Africa
Location: Durban (Umlazi)
Sector of intervention:
Climate, Environment, Energy
La Guilde Endowment: €51,528
Project cost: €64,410
Project leader: Bek La Barre

Funder(s):
• Coreom
• La Guilde
• The Fondation de France

Project objectives

Developing the practice of street workout as a tool for social integration
Promoting the physical and mental health of young people in Umlazi township
Building intercultural bridges between Reunion Island and South African youth

Activities

Renovation of an urban training space in Umlazi
Cross-training of Reunion Island and South African coaches in street workout and healthy and balanced nutrition
Exchanges of practices between young athletes
Organization of a local demonstration and awareness event

Direct beneficiaries

Young people from working-class neighborhoods in South Africa and Réunion Island engaged in street workout as a lever for integration, health and social cohesion

Expected results

1 operational urban sports site
7 coaches trained in the Bek La Barre methodology
A network of young people engaged in regular practice
A lasting bond of cooperation between the youth of the two territories

A dual support and funding mechanism for overseas civil society organizations, the CORÉOM program – Overseas Regional Cooperation – encourages regional and international cooperation dynamics among associations based in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. Financially supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Fondation de France, CORÉOM is implemented by La Guilde, with a set of territorial networks and relay partners in the five territories.