SportsLEADERacademy

The purpose of the project is to strengthen youth through leadership training within sports clubs. The project will also lead to a printed knowledge base aimed at spreading the method to other municipalities.

The goal of the project is for 40–50 youth to have completed the sports academy. The activities in the project are to hold workshops and lectures for youth in the area.

The academy will create hope for the future, empowerment, pride, networks, and lifelong experiences and provide opportunities and chances for all youth who have the will and motivation to develop. It creates inclusion by giving all youth who want it a chance. We will collaborate across club boundaries and thereby increase cooperation between clubs and also sports. This contributes to development not only for individuals but also for the clubs. The vision is to create an inclusive environment in the clubs for all youth regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, or experience.

The youth will gain access to networks with other youth, clubs, and businesses in the municipality, which increases the likelihood that they will stay with their knowledge in the municipality's club life. The youth will also have opportunities to organize activities for other children and youth in the municipality, increase interest in sports and club life for the children who are not involved today, and be good role models. It creates inclusion and community across many boundaries.

By learning to take responsibility, receiving training in leadership, being and feeling like a role model and part of a context, and creating a network, the academy will hopefully provide an important opportunity for the youth. The conditions increase for their future choices in life to be more sustainable and for them to have more opportunities than before. They will also become good role models for other children and youth in the municipality. In the long run, a mentorship program can also be started with those who have completed the training.

We believe that about 2000 children and leaders will receive improved service and/or infrastructure by raising the municipality's shared leadership competence, training more young leaders, and accommodating more children in the clubs. We also believe that the clubs' important democratic work is strengthened, which engages more people in the boards and working groups.