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Inclusion through sport: Overcoming barriers, empowering community

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17 Sep, 2023

This post was originally published on Good Search

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© Sit’N’Skate / Pascal Lieleg

Sport unites across borders and promotes inclusion. Many inspiring initiatives are breaking down barriers with their work and creating a diverse sports landscape. Find out in the article how sport can contribute to more equality.

Sport brings people together, overcomes boundaries and prejudices and strengthens the community. With regard to the topic of integration and inclusion in sports, it is about far more than just athletic performance, success and victory. It is much more important to create an environment through sports where everyone feels welcome and where the diversity of people is accepted and lived, regardless of individual abilities. In this way, sports can be an excellent tool for a more equitable society! This is proven by many inspiring initiatives and projects worldwide that promote inclusion and integration in sports. These initiatives show us that truly everyone, regardless of their physical and mental abilities, gender, age or social background, has the opportunity to participate in sport actively. In this article, we will introduce you to initiatives and projects that aim to break down barriers and create a sports landscape that promotes social participation and equality.

Inclusion of people with disabilities

People with disabilities, chronic illnesses or other physical or mental limitations often face obstacles when it comes to actively participating in sports. Accessible infrastructure, appropriate training facilities, adequate equipment and qualified coaches are just some of the factors that need to be considered to ensure participation for all. But despite these challenges, there are many inspiring examples and initiatives that show that inclusion in sports can work very well and, above all, is rewarding.

 

Rollstuhl Skate Treff im Ackerpoolco - Active City Summer

We are currently supporting Sit’N’Skate – On the Halfpipe with a Wheelchair

Going down the halfpipe in a wheelchair sounds crazy? In fact, it is a popular sport for people in wheelchairs! The Sit’N’Skate project offers a diverse programme of skate meetings, skate events and summer programmes, aiming to break down barriers and provide a platform for inclusion in sport and everyday life for people with disabilities. Their offer is not only about learning cool tricks but above all about finding access to mobility and more independence and self-confidence. At Sit’N’Skate, participants are actively trained, among other things through their own learning platform, to learn how to use their wheelchairs in everyday life safely and thus promote participation in social life. Currently, there are projects in the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover and Dortmund.

Sit’N’Skate will be supported by GOOD in July 2023 – so you can actively generate money for this project with your search queries.

INCLUSEA - Adapted Surf Methodology

Inclusea – Waves for Change and Inclusion

The Inclusea project aims to use inclusion and accessibility for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities in surfing. Inclusea develops practices and guidelines for a common teaching approach for surf instructors targeting people with physical or mental handicaps. In this way, a European and international standard will be established for inclusive surf lessons or surf therapy programmes. The overall aim is to improve the accessibility of sporting activities in coastal and marine areas for competitive, recreational and therapeutic purposes. The project is currently in the pilot phase and is a collaboration of regional and local governments, NGOs and universities in five countries (Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and Germany).

© Inclusea

Equal opportunities through integration in sport

Another important issue in relation to sports is the creation of equal opportunities in socio-economically deprived areas. Especially children and families affected by poverty or children with a migration background often have less access or fewer resources to actively pursue a sport. However, there are also various projects in this field that are particularly committed to social equality.

 

Datei:ONETEAM Logo CMYK.jpg – Wikipedia

ONE TEAM – Diverse sports projects for children and young people around the world

One Team stands for the worldwide promotion of education, health and equality. It is about experiencing team spirit and discovering one’s own abilities through sport. To this end, the organisation supports various local partner organisations in the implementation of diverse sports projects and the creation of sports facilities, for example in Honduras, Rwanda and Tanzania. Through events, fundraising and public relations work in Germany, they draw attention to international projects and collect donations. In doing so, they pursue an important common goal: to give children and young people prospects in life through sport.

Skateistan – Supporting children through skateboarding and education

Another project emerging from the skate scene is Skateistan. Through the unique combination of skateboarding and creative education, Skateistan enables children to actively work for a better world and grow up to become good sustainable leaders of tomorrow. The focus is on disadvantaged groups who are often excluded from sports and educational opportunities, especially girls, children with disabilities and children from low-income backgrounds. Skateistan creates a safe environment where children can not only have fun, but also make friends and build their self-confidence. The project is based in Berlin, but operates internationally through various units and fundraising activities.

© Skateistan

Kicking for more equality

Football is a sport that unites people all over the world. Here in particular, there are numerous initiatives and projects that work towards an inclusive society.

 

Football Beyond Borders - William Wates Memorial Trust

Football beyond Borders – With football to graduation

The Football beyond Borders project works with young people from socio-economically marginalised areas. They are dedicated to children and young people who are passionate about football but do not manage to realise their full potential in everyday school life. The aim is to provide long-term support to help these young people graduate from school and thus make a better transition into adult life. Currently, about 2000 children and young people are in their programme. Overall, 95% of the participating children have been able to complete the school year.

© Common Goal Move for the Planet

Zambam Sport – Shin pads for Zambia

Especially in regions characterised by poverty, there is often a lack of appropriate sports and protective equipment to be able to pursue a sport. The project Zambam Sport addresses this problem. Together with partners, the organisation produces shin guards for football. The current focus is on Zambia, where football plays a major role as a counterbalance to everyday school and work life. The shin guards are made of bamboo, as the founders are particularly concerned about sustainable, resource-saving and fair production with the least possible use of machinery.

Common Goal - Juan Mata

Common Goal – Fair chances through football community

Uniting the community and power of football for a good cause is the mission of Common Goal. The origins of the organisation lay in the NGO streetfootballworld. The NGO was founded in 2002 by Jürgen Griesbeck, at that time with the idea of building an international network of streetfootball initiatives that work to support children and young people in socially challenged regions. With the two brands merging in 2022 under the name Common Goal, the focus remains on transforming communities and creating fair opportunities. With football’s reach, the organisation also aims to inspire the entire fan community to take action and, in particular, hold football’s major players accountable to drive a more sustainable, equitable future and thus the achievement of global goals.

Sport for greater well-being, community and acceptance  

Inclusion extends much further than issues of people with disabilities and social disadvantages and is of enormous importance in diverse contexts. And here, too, sport can have a supportive effect in promoting participation in society, be it in the area of mental health, intergenerational inclusion or even when it comes to the reintegration of convicts. The following projects are examples for this.

 

Rollbrettworkshop – Sport as Therapy

Sport can also be an important element for mental health. This is the approach taken by the Rollbrettworkshop project in Freiburg. They offer skateboarding and longboarding courses and provide therapeutic support for people with mental stress. In individual sessions or together in groups, project participants find ways to feel better in their bodies as well as in their heads and hearts and to practice patience with themselves.

© Bike Bridge / Felix Grotel

Home - Bike Bridge

Bike Bridge – building bridges between different social groups

The Bike Bridge initiative builds bridges between people, projects and organisations by offering a multifaceted range of exercises on bicycles. Places are specifically created that enable encounters, movement and, above all, exchange. Bike Bridge offers projects with different focuses throughout Germany, e.g. to strengthen and connect women, seniors and people with a migration background. The activities of the project aim to promote social interaction and create an exchange beyond social groups. At the same time, the programme improves individual mobility and supports social engagement.

PHÖNIX - Training For Life - NGOjobs.eu

Phönix – Team Spirit for Prisoners

The idea of the project Phönix is to offer people in prison a perspective with their program. Through a diverse range of sports, prisoners are supported in their reintegration into society. In this way, the project uses sport as a catalyst for teaching important life skills, both for the time during imprisonment and afterwards. In this way, Phönix wants to create new perspectives for the offenders and thus minimize the likelihood that they will relapse after their release.

MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

Sit’N’Skate

We are supporting Sit’N’Skate in July 2023 with the proceeds of GOOD. You can find out more about it on our project page:

Questions, Critique, Ideas? Message us!
Andreas Renner, Co-Founder GOOD: andreas@good-search.org

The post Inclusion through sport: Overcoming barriers, empowering community appeared first on GOOD – The search engine for a better world.

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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