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At Beyond Sport, we’ve always believed in sport’s power to transform communities. But we also realize that true change can only happen when the people and organizations at the heart of the work are sufficiently equipped with the resources, networks, training and knowledge they need to sustain their efforts.
As we continue to invest in social change programs around the world, we’re equally committed to providing capacity-building opportunities as an essential part of our mission to champion people and communities through sport.
Over the last few months, we’ve been pleased to create spaces for learning and connection through our Sport Together Fund (STF) which focuses on refugees, asylum seekers and displaced communities with support from the New Balance Foundation. Through a virtual workshop series designed with and for NGOs, topics addressed what participants identified as most relevant – from gender equity and refugee inclusion to cross-sector collaboration and community co-building. These sessions weren’t just about skill-building; they were about peer learning, providing practical tools and sparking fresh ideas for real-world challenges. Here are some of the highlights and key takeaways from the participants:
Workshop 1: Pathways into Education and Employment for Displaced Youth
Led by French STF grantee Kabubu, this session explored what it really takes to create sport-based programs that meet the unique needs of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Named for the Swahili concept for “friendship through sport,” Kabubu creates inclusive spaces where refugees and locals can connect, break down barriers and build community. With the Fund’s support, Kabubu is expanding its “Coop-R Sport” initiative, offering regular sports sessions, coaching, language support, job training and workshops that raise awareness of refugee experiences.
Programs Coordinator Oceane Gangand and Social and Professional Support Manager Zoé Faes offered strategies for inclusive programming to meet the needs of displaced youth. These included intercultural learning, inclusive ice-breakers, peer-led support spaces, travel support and gender access, among other practical tools. Participants discussed how to build belonging, provide tools for engagement and create inclusive, welcoming environments to enable refugees and migrants to thrive.
Key takeaways:
- A sense of belonging must be intentionally nurtured; it doesn’t happen by default.
- Coaches must understand how to work across cultures, support mental wellbeing and communicate inclusively.
- Flexible, trauma-informed program design paired with peer support and language integration builds trust and participation.
Workshop 2: Cross-Sector Collaboration
Ricardo Carvalho, founder of the Social Innovation Sports Hub (SISH) in Portugal offered insights from a different perspective and program, the Olympism365 Innovation Hub. Representing Collective365, he shared on their work in empowering refugees through community-driven innovation, providing another approach to workshop participants. Carvalho shared a powerful case study on community revitalization through sport and how they transformed abandoned sports spaces into hubs of connection and pride. Their story highlighted how sport, when combined with trust-building, corporate partnerships and community ownership, can become a powerful tool for healing and unity.
The Portugal-based nonprofit uses sports as a tool for social inclusion and community development. They work through a “quadruple helix” model, partnering with government, academia, businesses and NGOs, to design, run and scale sport for social impact initiatives. Their expertise spans project development, capacity building and sustainable sports infrastructure. Their Collective Innovation leverages the Welcome Sports Club Jobs (WSC Jobs) methodology to promote the social and economic integration of migrants and refugees, creating a pathway to autonomy through sports and employment.
Participants learned that cross-sector collaboration, when done right, can be transformative, not just for vulnerable communities but for every stakeholder involved. The process demands patience, humility and a shared vision but the long-term rewards like stronger communities, impactful programs and inclusive growth are worth the effort.
Key takeaways:
- Co-designing community sports courts with artists and youth fostered pride and ownership.
- Success depended on sustained partnerships with NGOs, government and corporates like Decathlon.
- Navigating informal vs. formal partnerships and the power dynamics in both was critical to long-term success.
“These types of events are useful for anyone wanting to gain knowledge and experience from others in similar positions who are working towards similar goals,” said a workshop participant.
Workshop 3: Female Inclusion
German STF grantee SPORTS for MORE E.V. promotes integration, wellbeing and personal growth in safe, inclusive spaces. They spotlighted how their youth boxing initiative is breaking down barriers for girls and young women, especially refugees and migrant youth, through safe, female-led spaces. The STF grant has funded boxing workshops at refugee housing in Berlin and they are now expanding to include weekly girls’ and women-only sessions.
Managing Director Marike Ingwersen and Chief Purpose Officer of Communications and Fundraising Sandra Holtermann from SPORTS for MORE shared an insights on challenges and breakthroughs in engaging migrant girls in sport. With boxing and social development work as a foundation, they shared their approach to creating safe, supportive and empowering spaces for young women backed by peer mentoring, flexible schedules and strong female role models.
Participants received strategies and tips to boost girls’ and women’s participation. They learned to create girl-only sessions and spaces, implement childcare for mothers and educate communities to challenge preconceived gender stereotypes, among other initiatives.
Key takeaways:
- Peer mentorship, flexible scheduling and female role models are vital for engagement and retention.
- Family involvement (especially mothers) helps address cultural barriers to girls’ participation.
- Female-focused sport isn’t just about access, it’s about redefining gender norms and building leadership.
Workshop 4: Engaging Participants to Co-Build/ Shape Activities
The final session was led by STF grantee Yoga and Sport with Refugees (YSR) Founder Estelle Jean. She unpacked the principles of co-building and creating programs with, not for, communities. Founded in 2017 and based in Greece, YSR uses sport to bring together refugees and local communities. They believe that sport can break down ethnic and religious barriers, creating a safe space for continuous learning and development between cultures where the overall community benefits. Co-building is central to their work, involving both participants and coaches/volunteers.
Workshop participants learned about creating ways for their own program participants to share ideas, actively listening and following up with suggestions and feedback. This also includes trying monthly co-designed sessions where participants help lead programming and using gamification to increase engagement and creativity.
Key takeaways:
- Start with listening – learn what communities want and how they define success.
- Build trust before solutions. Transparency, humility and shared ownership are non-negotiable.
- Use storytelling to shift power, elevate community voices and gain broader stakeholder buy-in.
“Beyond Sport brings together industry-leading sports for development professionals and supports participant projects with engaging workshops. Super grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this webinar series!” said a workshop participant.
Across all four workshops, one theme rang clear: effective sport for development work is community-rooted, inclusive and adaptive. These sessions didn’t just deliver knowledge; they sparked peer connections and reminded us of the importance of slowing down, listening deeply and building with intention.
Stay tuned for the next round of workshops in the series! Please reach out to [email protected] to get involved or for more information.
Beyond Sport launched the Sport Together Fund in May 2022 to provide grants and capacity-building assistance to non-profits, sports clubs and collectives that are aiding communities facing conflict, displacement and human rights violations.
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