91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ

The seventy youth activists from twenty-eight countries from across Asia-Pacific coming together for the UNESCO Funshop on Sport and the SDGs in Seoul on 5-8 September 2019 demonstrated the incredible power of sport to shape a better future for all.

These youth came with powerful stories to share about their work and their determination.  No matter the odds, they are building a more peaceful and inclusive world through sport: Nelofar helping Afghan girls build confidence and overcome war trauma through long-distance running, Saif using rugby to transform the minds and behaviors of radicalized youngsters in the poor areas of New Delhi, Josh using water sports to raise awareness about climate emergency and help adapt to its impact in the Philippines – the list is long and truly inspiring.

Through structured exchanges that drew on their own experiences, as well as capacity-building modules delivered by experienced facilitators, the youth gained a deeper understanding of the role that sport can play in achieving specific SDG targets. Following the established practice, the Funshop was designed to combine the fun spirit of sport with the intensive learning environment of a workshop.

These youth are invited to join UNESCO’s – a collective of creative, passionate and innovative young leaders across Asia and the Pacific who use sport as a tool for positive social change in their communities. These young leaders and activists are using sport to make a difference: to empower young women and girls, to promote tolerance, to counter extremism, to reach out to the vulnerable and marginalized, to educate about the environment, to promote the values of respect, empathy, and fairness – the list goes on!

UNESCO supports the Task Force by providing opportunities for the members to promote and enhance their work by connecting with each other and with regional and global opportunities for growth and capacity building. Crucially, UNESCO works with the Task Force to deliver Sport and the SDGs Funshops around the world, with financial support from international sports organizations and national partners. The 2019 Seoul Funshop on Sports and the SDGs was made possible through the generous support from Lee Seung-Yuop Baseball Foundation.

UNESCO invites the national and international sports organizations, federations and foundations to jointly design and deliver Funshops on Sport and the SDGs, including in the framework of major national, regional and global sporting events.

The UNESCO Funshop on Sport and the SDGs contributes to SDG no. 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16.

For more information, please consult , or contact Irakli Khodeli (i.khodeli@unesco.org), Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO Office, Jakarta.