Speakers
Description
The historical and geographical vulnerability of Pakistan to violent extremism (VE), as well as
the increasing number of Pakistani communities using Sport for Development and Peace (SDP)
programmes, informed the need for this research. The government has often adopted a top-down
approach to its VE prevention efforts. In cases where civil society organisations are consulted or
engaged, the role of sport/SDP programmes is largely overlooked, despite their social
significance in local communities and Pakistan in general. Due to this gap, the study included
four SDP programme implementers and eight youth beneficiaries from two non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) located in the Multan district of Punjab province, where they operate in 27
high-risk local communities. The study aimed to seek local perspectives about the factors
considered when implementing SDP programmes in high-risk local communities. Hedieh
Mirahmadi’s (2016) BRAVE model was the theoretical tool used to analyse the factors that
organisations consider when they engage vulnerable youth from the targeted communities. Using
semi-structured in-depth interviews and document analysis, it was revealed that sociological and
psychological factors were the most significant considerations when executing SDP
programmes. Other factors such as economics; politics; and ideologies, beliefs, and values were
less emphasised. The discussion revolved around the government's recent scrutiny of NGOs in
Pakistan and its implications for the sustainability of the SDP.
