UCLan Sport for Development Project 2014

Sports Coaching and Development undergraduates have successfully completed the UCLan Sport for Development Project 2014.

Working in partnership with Sport in Action, Senior Lecturer Cliff Olsson created the project six years ago to provide students with an opportunity to study the global value and contribution sport can make towards supporting the Millennium Development Goals.

The scheme aims to actively support Sport for Development projects being delivered in some of the poorest parts of the world by agencies such as Sport in Action and Zambia-based Edusport.

The projects rely upon the goodwill of voluntary sports leaders from the compounds who work with some of the most vulnerable children in the world with only the most basic of resources, delivering key life skill messages through activities and games.

Along with Sports Studies students and colleagues from UCLan's Journalism and Media programme, our students worked at a variety of Zambian schools with children aged 3-16.

Cliff commented: "The project provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to develop their knowledge and understanding of Sport for Development, by working with Development Agencies in Africa with some of the most challenging communities in the world.

"The project is led by final year undergraduates who develop leadership, management and problem solving skills over a six week period in Zambia. I think it's a unique opportunity that reinforces UCLan's commitment to providing real life experiences for our students."

After returning from Zambia, student Joseph McQuade was invited to BBC Radio Lancashire to talk about the trip on John Gillmore's show.

He said: "This was a truly unforgettable trip for me, as it opened up my eyes to how the Zambian people lived. They had next to nothing but still greeted me every day with smiles and songs. I was surprised to see how happy they were.

"The trip wasn't only working with hundreds of children a day, as we also got to see Zambia's Victoria Falls, as well as taking a trip over to Botswana to see what their safari had to offer. This trip was a truly amazing experience and I'd recommend it to everybody."

To view more images from the trip please click here.