Empowerment through Sport and Games in Goffertpark

Last week, we organised an afternoon of sport and games in Goffertpark at the request of one of our partners.

The activity was designed for young people who are currently not attending school. For some of them, getting out of the house, being active or joining a group can be a real challenge. That is why we wanted to create an easy going and positive afternoon with no pressure to perform. The focus was simply on moving, meeting others and enjoying the experience together.

We worked with a mix of activities, both with and without a ball. The programme included active games, a trust exercise and a team challenge in which the participants had to rely on one another to complete the task.

It was never about who was the fastest, strongest or most athletic. What mattered was that everyone could take part in their own way. Throughout the afternoon, the young people had to communicate, work together, support one another and sometimes try something that felt a little unfamiliar at first.

That is often where the real value of sport and games can be found. When people are focused on an activity together, conversations and connections tend to develop naturally.

As the afternoon went on, we could see the group becoming more relaxed and engaged. There was plenty of laughter, enthusiasm and teamwork. The young people encouraged one another and became more confident as the activities progressed. Their faces said it all: being outside, moving and simply having a good time together made a difference.

At Bildung Nijmegen, this is exactly how we see the role of sport and games. They are not only activities in themselves, but also a practical way to support empowerment, confidence, connection and participation.

Instead of focusing on what someone finds difficult, we start with what is possible. Taking part in a group, trying something new, contributing to a team and experiencing that others can rely on you can all be meaningful steps forward.

Sometimes those steps may seem small, but they can be important. Getting moving physically can also help someone regain motivation, confidence and a sense of momentum in other parts of life.

For a while, the afternoon was not about school, expectations or what someone was supposed to be doing. It was simply about being together, taking on a challenge, keeping a ball in play, helping one another and having fun.

And perhaps the best sign of all was that, by the end of the afternoon, the group was already asking for more.

For us, that is a strong reason to keep developing our Empowerment through Sport and Games approach and to continue exploring how movement, teamwork and enjoyment can help young people reconnect, build confidence and take positive steps forward.

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