You(th) are not the future, we are here
Awa Ba was one of the young participants, representing Senegal, that took part in our Erasmus+ Sport funded Youth Exchange.
Read about her experience.
"The work sessions made me realize the power I am holding as a young educated woman within my community and awakened in me a strong sense of responsibility and leadership."
From May 9th to 15th, 2022, the youth exchange on sustainable development goals and sport took place at the Arc en Ciel du Lac Rose hotel in Dakar, Senegal. The workshop was intended for young people from Japan, Senegal and Europe: mostly countries that have organized the Olympic Games in the past and countries in the process of organizing the Olympic Games.
Sport4SD is a project that was co-financed by “Erasmus+ Sport program of the European Union” and therefore having as partner:
- ENGSO Youth (project leader, Europe-wide youth NGO)
- Educational Foundation of Kokushikan (Japan)
- University of Physical Education (Hungary)
- Senegalese Olympic and Sports Committee (Senegal)
- Sport and Citizenship (France)
The particularity of this project is therefore found in the cultural diversity of its participants.
Nowadays, it is really important to be exposed to the different living modes of other cultures in order to open one’s mind. As I was evolving in this world, short sighted, this exchange allowed me to be more aware of important sustainable development goals that my society does not pay enough attention to, like climate actions and how sports can be used to better those situations.
Photo: Anna Szilágyi
Nowadays, it is really important to be exposed to the different living modes of other cultures in order to open one’s mind. As I was evolving in this world, short sighted, this exchange allowed me to be more aware of important sustainable development goals that my society does not pay enough attention to, like climate actions and how sports can be used to better those situations.
The cultural diversity present during the conversations I was having, gave me an insight on how other foreign member’s communities tackle such issues.
For instance, thanks to the Japanese Committee exposee, we got a deep insight on how the Tokyo Olympic Games were organized in an eco-friendly way: through recycling, the use of public transport or bicycles, the use of existing facilities to avoid building, etc.
All the models that were given, can be adapted and reproduced within our community and/or during the organization of the Dakar Youth Olympic games , in order to considerably reduce our carbon footprint.
The work sessions made me realize the power I am holding as a young educated woman within my community and awakened in me a strong sense of responsibility and leadership.
I had the perfect opportunity, during our visit to GENERATION FOOT, to engage with young student athletes about their choice of undergraduate studies. Many of them took or already had an interest in the field I am evolving in.
As I was answering their questions, conversing and debating with them, I could see the influence I was exerting on such a meaningful topic of their lives. I have, maybe ,unknowillingly, encouraged them into getting a higher education or opened the doors of an area they once thought inaccessible.
This was a raw demonstration of how influential I can be towards the youth of my community. It fueled me to act even better, to be an example on which my peers can rely on.
The visit at GENERATION FOOT also allowed me to see the effect that sport has on our youth. Their fighting spirit and precocious maturity is clearly driven by the passion they hold for their sport. Through their talent, some of those children that were evolving in precarious situations have found access to quality education and chances for a better future.
Throughout this week, every sustainable development goal has been approached and viewed in the eyes of a young sportsperson. We identified what were the main challenges for young people to get involved in decision making bodies in sport. I especially understood that we, as young people, need to break the stereotypes surrounding our lack of qualifications or experience and enforce ourselves in a rigid system that does not allow us to make decisions in matters that concern us, concern our present.
We have to wake the world up and make them realize, “You(th) are not the future, we are here !! Now !!”
~ Awa BA
Photo: Anna Szilágyi