Meet the Shortlist: Sport for Health Award
Selected from over 350 entries reaching 60 different countries, the Beyond Sport Awards, supported by Comic Relief shortlist represents the standout and unique work being done by organisations across the globe, from figure skating in Harlem to get young girls interested in STEM education, capoeira as a way to rehabilitate displaced young people in the Middle East to socially conscious gym classes as a way to support isolated older people in the disadvantaged communities across the UK.
The 36 nominated initiatives will be invited to the Beyond Sport Summit 2015, with their travel and accommodation provided, where the winners will be announced at the prestigious Awards Ceremony on the second day of the event.
Sport for Health Award
The Sport for Health Award celebrates projects that use sport to address health issues through education and/or awareness raising.
Waves for Change, Isiqalo Foundation, South Africa
Waves for Change is committed to strengthening the all-round community based support vulnerable young people are able to access. Surfing is as much a part of Waves for Change as the organisations’ commitment to training quality child and youth care workers who can offer community based care once the surfing day is done, or our work advocating for fair and equal inclusion of children who face daily exclusion. At the heart of Waves for Change lies a belief that a happy individual is a successful individual. There are many aspects of life that impact our ability to feel happy, or secure. We believe the promotion of emotional wellbeing and mental health is vital if we are to be stable, secure and successful in life.
Football for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Centre For Regeneration And Empowerment Of Africa Through Africa (CREATA), Kenya
Football for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (F4WASH) programme contributes to improved access to water and sanitation by school children and thus provides a combination of hygiene education, safe water and sanitation facilities which give school children fundamental WASH services and an opportunity to nurture skills that they are likely to maintain as adults.
The Big Issue's Community Street Soccer Programme, The Big Issue, Australia
The Community Street Soccer Program is an initiative of The Big Issue that uses the power of sport to change lives. Street Soccer promotes social inclusion and positive health for participants by providing support and promoting participation, inclusiveness, commitment and team spirit. The heart of Street Soccer is weekly training sessions held across Australia. Participants get together in a safe and non-threatening environment, allowing them to get fit, make new friends and seek support and advice.