Sport for Women’s Empowerment and Employment Programme (SWEEP) Conference

On Wednesday 24 March, TAFISA had the privilege to lead a session as part of Sport Management Council of the Philippines' first virtual international conference for Sport for Women’s Empowerment and Employment Programme (SWEEP). Attended by 200 participants, the international conference focused on bridging together like-minded athletes, educators, supporters and organisations to mobilise women and drive community empowerment through sports. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new opportunities as well as new challenges to the Global Sport for All Movement. The aim of the TAFISA-led session was to share insight and knowledge from global experts who presented on evolving practices and methods towards creating safe, inclusive and nurturing spaces for girls and women to undertake sport and physical activity across digital platforms. Watch the replay of the Conference below.

TAFISA Business Development and Fundraising Manager Keri McDonald attended from Germany and facilitated the session. McDonald presented an overview of TAFISA and the Global Sport for All Movement, with an emphasis on the importance of Mission 2030. From Turkey, Professor Mutlu Turkmen, President of the International Bocce Confederation and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Board of the Turkish Sport for All Federation, contributed to the session with a presentation on the Digitalisation of Sport for All, highlighting the success of HisApp (Turkish Sport for All mobile application) and the use of social media platforms to encourage physical, active and healthy lifestyles. The session also benefited from the contributions of Professor Darlene A. Kluka, Research Associate of the University of Pretoria and Vice President of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE), who presented from the United States on Safeguarding Girls and Women in Digital Spaces with Sport and Physical Activity. Professor Kluka’s presentation focused on the disruption of COVID-19 to the recovery and the unequivocal impact on girls and women, with emphasis placed on resilience and how to “build back better!”. The final expert to attend and contribute joined from Australia, Professor Helen Parker, Retired Executive Dean of Health Sciences from the University of Notre Dame and the first woman Commissioner to ever be elected to the Western Australian Football Commission. Professor Parker contributed with a presentation on Safeguarding Girls and Women in Sport in Digital Spaces with No Rules, focusing on “rule-less” social media platforms and the resulting negative behaviours which are impacting girls and women. Professor Parker highlighted the importance of Cyber Safety education as well everyone (women and men) taking responsibility and working together to succeed.

TAFISA wishes to extend a heartful thank you to all speakers for their extremely interesting, thought-provoking and knowledgeable presentations. The Global Sport for All Movement sincerely benefits from your involvement and contribution. TAFISA would also like to extend a huge thank you to Sport Management Council of the Philippines for the opportunity to collaborate on this session and wishes the very best with the rest of the conference.

More information on SWEEP.