Reflections from 20 Years in SDP

@SportandPeaceUT Facebook.com/CenterforSportPeaceSociety

sportandpeace.utk.edu

Center for Sport, Peace, &

SocietyUniversity of Tennessee

Carolyn R. Spellings, PhDMonitoring & Evaluation Coordinator


The Importance of Exposing, Equipping, Engaging, and Entrusting Local Audiences: Reflections from 20

Years of International Sports Development Experience



Background• Founded in 2012

– Dr. Sarah Hillyer (Director): [email protected]– Dr. Ashleigh Huffman (Assistant Director):

[email protected] • Mission

– “To use sport to change lives, communities, and the world through teaching, research, and service.”

• 20 plus years experience in SDP work• Current Projects

– Global Sports Mentoring Program– VOLeaders Academy

mailto:[email protected]




Important Questions1. What role do we, as cultural

outsiders, have in sport for development and peace work in an international setting?

2. How can local leaders be empowered to create sustainable sport and physical activity opportunities for marginalized populations?



4-E Model of Empowerment




• Expose participants to new people, resources, and networks – Professional Connections– Political Connections– Academic Connections– Peer Connections




• Equip participants to tackle issues in their communities– Identify a manageable issue– Identify gatekeepers– Leadership skills




• Engage participants in new experiences and exchanges– Service Learning– Reflection




• Entrust participants to carry out their own vision for change– Action Plan Development and

Presentations• Displays participants expertise • Sense of ownership



Impact of 4-E Model• Culturally-relative, sensitive, and

sustainable SDP programs• 86% implementation rate• 2014 GSMP (Sept. – Oct.)– 3,300 volunteers and coaches mobilized– 7,000 individuals engaged



Thank you!Carolyn R. Spellings, PhD

Monitoring & Evaluation [email protected]

Sarah Hillyer, PhDDirector

[email protected]

Ashleigh Huffman, PhDAssistant Director

[email protected]


