PeacePlayers International – South Africa (PPI - South Africa) is a sport for development program that serves children and youth ages 10 and above who live in Durban and the surrounding areas, including the townships of Umlazi and Lamontville.
Founded in 2001, the organisation aims to help young people from different communities live peacefully together and have positive aspirations for the future. Each year the program engages approximately 500 youth and coaches in a variety of activities, including basketball practices, tournaments and games, community service projects and coach training sessions.
This evaluation assesses how effectively the organisation designs and implements activities, and whether it has achieved intended program outcomes. To that end, it focuses on several key areas: 1) Program context, including community and youth development priorities, and what attracts participants to join PPI – South Africa; 2) Coaching, specifically coach training and coach – participant relationships; and 3) Program outcomes, with a focus on leadership development, self-identity and values, and positive relationships.
The evaluation utilised a mixed methodology, including surveys, participatory focus groups, key informant interviews and observations; data was collected with youth participants, coaches, staff and program stakeholders. Key findings include:
- Discrimination based on race, gender and cultural group is a major community development priority in Durban. On an individual level, youth consider personal assets such as self-esteem and responsibility as critical to future success.
- One of the major strengths of PPI – South Africa is the positive relationships between coaches and participants; this allows coaches to serve as role models and key influencers among their teams.
- PPI – South Africa successfully builds leadership skills and confidence among participants, helps youth learn to set and achieve personal goals, and fosters positive relationships among those from different communities. However, the evaluation also found negative perceptions regarding gender equity, particularly among males and primary school-age participants.
Visit the PeacePlayers International website to learn more about their results.
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