Mbale Tigers : Psychosocial Development

DEVELOPING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CAPACITY THROUGH SPORTS

A brief definition of psychosocial development:

”an interplay between the individual psychological development and the closest environment”.

Sports in developing projects

International organizations have started to use sports in developing projects.

Twiga started in 2003.

Sports as a ”third factor”

Sports is a simple mean to bring young people together. It must not necessary be sports, but also music, bands, theater, or else. The most important issue is to have a focus point, a third factor.

Sports and improved psychosocial capacities

The psychosocial dimension is divided into two levels, the individual and the social level. These levels always interplay. The individual level means that the athletes develop motoric and physical skills.

The motoric skills include a raised body-awareness. This covers the coordination skills when the interplay between the body’s skills and the human senses improves. It results in a further insight about the correlation between sports and health, and a willingness to keep a healthy lifestyle. A higher self esteem and self confidence becomes a reality.

An empowered mental capacity keeps the concentration and the ability to focus. Twiga’s sport project has shown that the athletes have better discipline after joining sports. The athletes have also showed significant better discipline at home and in school.

Inactivity is a problem in Uganda. When no future hope is there it’s easier to make harmful decisions in life. The social aspect of sports has therefore equal importance compared to the physical capacities. A healthier mind gives better chances to a greater personal network and to create an understanding of other people ideas. When athletes join a group activity it leads to a feel akin with others and the responsibility for the group rises.

Learning how to treat friends and leaders with respect, and how you function in a group, gives important experiences for a future employment.

The social skills are also developed when the player learn how to face a win and a loss. How can you be a respected winner, and a good loser? All players need to reflect about their own situation and values. When a society is limited in sports, more men and women have chances to participate. Twiga gives all people the same chances to participate, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and religious beliefs.

To raise the commitment for the society and the understanding for health, seminars are given in Hiv/aids-prevention, leadership, organization knowledge and human rights.