Call for papers: Sport as a tool in youth work practice

Policy makers, practitioners, young people and academics are encouraged to submit papers to the 2nd Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work to be held in South Africa in March 2016.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Republic of South Africa, the National Youth Development Agency of South Africa and the University of South Africa, is pleased to announce the 2nd Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work (CCYW).

When: 8-10 March 2016
Where: University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Deadline for proposal submissions: Friday 11 December 2015

What is the link to Sport for Development and Peace?
The themes for this year’s CCYW include ‘sport as a tool in youth work practice’. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) team encourage submissions which explore SDP within a youth work paradigm. This may include considering the intentional use of sport to achieve youth work outcomes by recognised youth workers, or the role of the SDP programme deliverer or coach as youth worker. Papers leading to insight as to how the fields of SDP and Youth Work can be more closely aligned and the implications for policy, programme design and qualification frameworks would be welcomed. Whilst it is expected that some papers will address these issues with a research/ theory focus, proposals with a practice focus based on learning from experience are also encouraged.

How do we define youth work? The Commonwealth defines youth work as the “non-formal personal, social and political education of young people within a matrix of care.” Youth workers are practitioners engaging directly with young people in non-formal settings to support the empowerment of young people. Youth work practice is supported by youth work managers, policy makers and academics in the area of youth work who are indispensable to the evolution and sustenance of the sector.

More information
Further information and contact details for the conference can be found in the attached call for papers. To discuss potential submissions related to sport with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Sport for Development and Peace team contact [email protected]