Right To Play has been called a pioneer in the global Sport for Development movement. Can you comment on that?
“Right To Play is a pioneer in the Sport for Development arena for two reasons: we have programs in over 20 countries, reaching more than 700,000 children every week. We have a great methodology that is making a difference on the ground. In addition, we have worked in the area of policy to effect change in government and United Nations’ interests, knowledge, and their behaviour toward investment in children’s holistic development through Sport for Development programs.”
How have you been impacted by your visits to field projects?
“One of my most memorable visits was in the south of Uganda in a health clinic at a refugee camp. We were visiting girls affected by HIVand AIDS, one of whom was about seven or eight months old, born to a 16-year-old mother. I asked whatthey could do for her, and [the clinic workers] said, ‘Absolutely nothing.’ The little girl died just hours after I left the clinic. I understood then that we had to make a difference. We had to create play programs that would enable children to make decisions for their own personal protection from
HIV and AIDS – understanding the disease, protecting themselves from it, and what they can do to prevent future infections – and that girls in particular should be the focus.”
What does it mean to you to have inspired other athletes to devote their time and resources to humanitarian efforts?
“We have engaged athletes from all around the world. We have had the opportunity to talk with them about
their role in society and how they can make a change. I’m really proud to say that we have involved over 400 athletes around the world in making a difference every single day. Athletes are role models– they can really stand up for children’s rights and give them the chance to play, and do that anywhere in the world.”
What are some of the things that make you proud to mark 10 years with Right To Play?
“I am most proud of the incredible accomplishments we have had in the field. The 13,000 Coaches and Leaders who are implementing the programs every day or on a weekly basis make me proud. Those Leaders in their communities are making a tremendous effort and are making a difference in children’s lives every single day. And those individuals, together with all the staff we have around the world, are the people and the inspiration to drive this work forward and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
What have you learned as a global leader and a participant in international development goals?
“What I’ve learned as a leader is the importance of sticking to the mission and the vision of the organization, not taking anything for granted but working towards and through the challenges that surface. Being part of a leadership circle with many international organizations has certainly strengthened our credibility, but has also given me the experience and the understanding of the challenges they are overcoming, which are very similar to what we have seen on a daily basis.”
What are your goals for Right To Play’s next 10 years?
“My goal for Right To Play over the next 10 years is to put us on a sustainable path – making sure that programs and activities in the local communities can be sustained, replicated, and are accessible to all children. This is a critical element to the areas where we are currently already working.
Secondly, we need to work with governments and institutions around the world to further enhance the Sport for Development agenda, so that institutions like the United Nations recognize the benefits of sport and play in their poverty reduction strategies and their national development plans so that this becomes a priority in the future. If these two elements of program sustainability and policy development and implementation can happen over the next 10 years, we will ensure that the future generation of children will have access to sport and play.”
If you could speak to each of Right To Play’s supporters, what would you say?
“To all of you who have supported Right To Play over the last 10 years: Thank you very much. We would not be where we are today without your support. Your financial contribution has been leveraged, and we can proudly say we’ve been effective in reaching the results of holistic child development, basic education, and disease and conflict prevention for the children in the more than 20 countries in which we work.
Thank you for your belief in us and thank you for continuing to support
us over the next 10 years.”
Johann Olav Koss,
Founder, President and CEO