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.
