With its focus on personal development, mentorship and team spirit, sport offers an ideal platform for community building. This year, The Winnipeg Foundation partnered with the True Sport Foundation on a pilot project that supported summer sports programs in the Central Park neighbourhood.
The inner-city area was selected not only because of the socio-economic barriers its residents face, but for its assets: a newly refurbished park, a vibrant community of newcomers, and a strong network of charitable organizations. Foundation staff worked closely with residents and agencies to develop the granting program and select projects for support – all of which were proposed, planned and carried out by local community members.
Organized sports included basketball, soccer, and baseball, as well as Wiggle, Giggle and Munch, an early literacy and physical activity program for children. In addition to developing local leaders, encouraging volunteerism, and bringing cultural groups together, the initiative had important tangible outcomes. Wiggle, Giggle and Munch continues through the winter; the basketball league has plans to expand (some rising stars have been selected for elite teams) and hundreds of newcomer boys – prime targets for gang recruitment – have built self-esteem, personal resilience and a sense of belonging. Visit our Facebook photo album for photos from the program.
Sam Unrau came to his first meeting in The Winnipeg Foundation’s boardroom as a Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) student representing Argyle Alternative High School. Fast forward just a few years and he’s a regular at that board table, the youngest-ever member of the Foundation’s Grants Committee. At 21, Unrau brings a wealth of non-profit knowledge to the role. Not only is he a seasoned grantmaker through YiP, he’s an experienced board member, tireless volunteer and community advocate.
For the past four years, Unrau has served on the board of Ten Ten Sinclair Housing, which provides independent living and support services for people with disabilities. He’s also a member of the City of Winnipeg’s Access Advisory Committee, where he sits on the Policy Sub-Committee. An avid sledge hockey player who loves to introduce others to the sport, Unrau is Vice-Chair of Sledge Hockey Manitoba’s advisory committee and is part of Para-Sport Manitoba, an initiative to support athletes with disabilities and involve more people in paralympic sport.
On top of all that, Unrau is working toward a degree in Business Administration from the University of Winnipeg. He already has a stellar résumé supporting his future.
Can sport bridge language and cultural differences?
Can sport help us to build on existing community assets and strengths?
Can sport be about more than…sport?
These were just a few of the questions in the back of my mind as I arrived in Winnipeg last February to help kick off the Central Park Grants for Sports pilot project. The project is the result of a partnership between the True Sport Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and Community Foundations of Canada. Four community foundations were selected (Winnipeg, Kitchener-Waterloo, Burlington and Abbotsford) to explore how True Sport could be used to strengthen local communities. True Sport is Canada’s national movement for sport and community. Its goal is to help sport live up to its full potential as a public asset by making a significant contribution to the development of youth and quality of life in our communities.
This summer, Central Park residents came together to talk about just that. A community meeting was held at Knox United Church where over 50 community members gathered to share stories about how sport and recreation make Central Park better. The central question of the day quickly became ‘what more can we do together’? The results were truly amazing! Over the course of the day as we ate samosas and sandwiches prepared by local Central Park restaurants, everyone began to see a role for themselves in the project. The passion in the room was evident as people pitched ideas for projects, discussed where they could contribute and volunteered to sit on the neighbourhood selection panel to evaluate and support the applicants.
After this meeting, a range of community-driven sport projects were initiated, planned and implemented by community members over the summer in Central Park including soccer, tennis and baseball. Each project was unique and was matched by Central Park community resources of volunteer time, donated materials, professional services or cash. By coming together, the community was able to identify its strengths, create connections, and build on existing partnerships. Regardless of what people’s passions were when they came to that first community meeting, everyone found a way to contribute and make a difference.
In the end, it is clear to me that this project was about far more than increasing sport opportunities in Central Park. It was even about more than sport itself. It was about community engagement, meeting new neighbours, making new friends, learning new skills and above all having FUN! What a summer! The networks and connections that were made are just the beginning. I think it’s safe to say that True Sport lives in Central Park.
By Christina Parsons, Projects Manager at the True Sport Foundation
Eight teams competed earlier this month for the Central Park Soccer Fest 2011 Championship. The weather was perfect for the two-day tournament and on Sunday afternoon, the FC Porto team was crowned the tournament champions, receiving a trophy and T-shirts.
Soccer Fest teams included Winnipeg Youth Somali Association, Knox Helping Hands, International Discipleship Ministry, Jeunesse Congolese, Ethiopian Beez, Congo Canada and others.
The tournament was made possible through the True Sport Matching Grants program, a partnership with The Winnipeg Foundation. A number of the teams in the tournament received grants to purchase equipment to run soccer programs throughout the summer and worked together to participate in the 2011 Soccerfest.
The Central Park Soccer Fest included 7 of the 15 community-led projects supported through the True Sport granting program and was a wonderful example of sport bringing a community together.
Standing by the doors of Knox United Church, seven excited children run to meet me – they’re ready for some “Fun in the Sun”! As they race up the long staircase to the upstairs gym, the children are welcomed by the facilitators and community volunteers who join them in free play for an active start to the day.
After free play, Ujwal stays with mom in the church learning action songs and rhymes and developing movement skills through the “Wiggle, Giggle and Munch” program. Evergreen and the older children head out to Central Park for high-energy, stimulating, interactive and co-operative games.
To complement the faster-paced activities, there’s a chance to slow down as we gather together in small groups to share and learn about our healthy snack. From there, the children get creative during a “make and take” craft. As the morning comes to a close with our good-bye song, I wave to those smiling faces with the expectation of seeing them again.
This summer program, “Fun in the Sun”, was initiated by Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network and seeks to provide physical activity and healthy snacks in a safe, fun and supportive environment. Thanks to the generous support of the True Sport grant, and the willingness of community volunteers, this program has become a reality and has impacted the lives of many this summer!
By Shoshannah Speers, volunteer with “Fun in the Sun” and “Wiggle, Giggle and Munch” program.
The Winnipeg Foundation
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