From a symbolic run and high-level panel discussion in Geneva to a volleyball exhibition promoting gender equality in rural India, a wide range of activities were organised last year to mark the inaugural IDSDP. This year’s advantage is that we can learn from last year, improving on our ability to make noise on the day and increase support for the use of sport in development globally.
A look ahead
Organising an IDSDP activity is an effective way to draw attention to your involvement in the sector, whether as part of a larger campaign or advocacy effort or simply a one-off event. It can and should also be used to reach out to those not familiar with S&D, making the day a platform to increase interest in the sector.
While not everyone has the same capacity to get involved, there are a number of ways you can, big or small. If you are looking to organise your own activity, use last year’s examples as a starting block and don’t forget to add your activity to this year’s IDSDP on sportanddev page. For those wanting to participate in something already planned, check out who’s doing what for IDSDP 2015 to see how you can join in the fun.
How to plan an activity
While there is no single way to plan an IDSDP activity, there are important elements to organising a successful international observance day activity that should be kept in mind:
- Create ownership for the activity within your own organisation
- Define a target group (both inside and outside S&D)
- Inform the press about your involvement in IDSDP
- Collaborate with other organisations
- Document your activitiy with lots of pictures and videos
- Get participants to comment on why they feel it is important to have these activities
- Send the press (and sportanddev!) a recap of the day
- Build a collective memory in your community about the activities and start planning for next year right after 2015 is over, embracing more players as you do.
A look back
The inaugural IDSDP was a good start, but we have a long way to go before we can confidently say that IDSDP is a well-established international observance day. In the same way sport is used in S&D programmes as a hook to attract participants, IDSDP 2014 showed us that it can also be used to encourage participation in activities on the day.
Whether organising a workshop, documentary screening, petition, exhibition or competition, here are a few lessons we have already learnt:
- As your key message or theme for the day is important, make sure it is clearly communicated at your event or activity
- Organising your activity on 6 April sends the message that the day is significant and allows you to benefit from the momentum created by global action on the day
- Writing press releases before and after your planned activities is essential for communication within and outside the S&D community
Above all, remember that this year’s challenge is to make even more noise than last year and to come together as a sector to promote the use of sport in its contribution to global development.
