GENEVA - The Switzerland-based International Labour Office has entered into a three-year partnership with Kennesaw State University aimed at building international development and social change through sport-related initiatives.
Through the agreement, KSU becomes part of an international network of universities and research institutes, together with local governments, that are working with the ILO's Universitas programme to help promote local human development and decent work.
The ILO is a United Nations specialized agency that seeks to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. Specifically, Universitas is an ILO partnership programme that links universities, governments and local agencies throughout the world to affect positive social change. The full name of the program is "Decent Work through Training and Innovation."
Kennesaw State University, located in Kennesaw, Georgia in the United States, is the third largest public institution of higher learning in Georgia. The University possesses research capacity and experience with various countries in a wide range of socially oriented programs.
Under the agreement, KSU will become an active partner in the ILO's Youth Sport Program, and will participate in related meetings on sport and development. The University will help formulate curriculums and programs that build skills in community development for social change through sport, as well as develop a teaching model that prepares students in the area of international sport and development.
KSU and ILO/Universitas have already worked together on sport-related field programs in developing countries. KSU participated in a venture with the UN Country Team in Albania and with that country's National Olympic Committee in a Common Framework using sport as a vehicle for socioeconomic integration. This resulted in a national youth strategy adopted by the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Albania.
Other activities being carried out at the project level include a women's cooperative for sports manufacturing in Mozambique that is being conducted by the National Olympic Committee with the support of the International Olympic Committee and UK Sports.
Under the terms of the agreement, ILO/Universitas will consolidate the reference network of universities and labour institutions interested in developing the program, and provide KSU and the aforementioned network with necessary technical and organizational support.
This project aims at contributing to the 2005 International Year of Education through Sport adopted by the UN General Assembly in its 2003 session.
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