13 June 2008
Why it was needed
The aim of the project was to ease tension and rivalry between different areas and build bridges between communities with different traditions and cultures.The tensions between the different areas included racial tensions, risk of being involved in gang crime and generally area tensions.
There were four areas from Preston involved in the project. These included Frenchwood and Avenham, Deepdale, Fishwick and Ribbleton.
What's being done
Using the medium of sport, I decided to organise a 5-a-side football tournament to help encourage young people (16 years and under) from different areas to build a more positive relationship between each other.80 young people participated in the football tournament.
How it started
I advertised the project by attending the local youth club in each area and asking them if they would like to take part in the project. I designed a poster for each youth club to encourage the young people from their area to enter a team to take part in the football tournament.In total the project recruited three teams from the four different areas of Preston involving over 80 young people.
The project was supported by the area part-time youth worker who is also a full-time member of staff at the University of Central Lancashire.
The project was a fun and friendly competition and it did help bring young people from different areas and backgrounds together. Therefore the project improved community harmony and cohesion.
More
I thoroughly enjoyed my involvement in the whole project. Through organising the tournament, I had to relate to people at all levels (organising venue, arranging referees etc…) thus improving my communication and organisational skills. I developed my logic skills by creating the fixture list for the tournament to ensure that the event ran smoothly.Planning the event was not that difficult but the challenge was ensuring that the behaviour and language of the young people at the event was sportsmanship like.
I had a number of volunteers that helped me keep the event running without any problem. All the volunteers were great and help make the event successful and trouble free. (especially when all young people want to win!)
My thanks to Junction 49 and the co-ordinator (Sara Ali) in providing me with support (both moral and financial) in allowing this project to materialise. I would not hesitate in recommending Junction 49 to my university colleagues if they had a suitable volunteering project in mind.