Sport and childhood: a tool for education and social inclusion
In Benin, sport is no longer just synonymous with leisure or performance. More and more schools, associations and federations are using it as a vehicle for civic education and social inclusion. Football, athletics, handball or even rugby become learning grounds for respect, discipline and living together.
Based on national legislation and international conventions, the country intends to make sport a major lever for child development. The Beninese Constitution guarantees the right to education and promotes youth. The Charter of Sports in the Republic of Benin insists on children’s access to appropriate physical activities, both within and outside school.
In addition, Benin is a signatory to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which recognizes the right of every child “to rest, play and recreational activities”. These texts pave the way for national programmes encouraging sports from primary school onwards, in line with the objectives of quality education and equal opportunities.
In many primary schools, Physical and Sports Education (PE) is now integrated into the weekly schedule. Teachers testify to its benefits. Indeed, they say, sport promotes discipline and a sense of effort. It also allows for team spirit and solidarity without forgetting the physical and mental health guaranteed to the practitioner. On a basketball court, a student learns as much the geometry of passes as cooperation. It is a concrete extension of the classroom “, summarizes Théodore COSSI, teacher of Physical and Sports Education.
A tool for social inclusion…
Sport also serves as a gateway for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities. In Cotonou, some associations organize football tournaments every year bringing together children from poor neighborhoods and students from private schools. The goal is to break down social barriers and create lasting bonds.
For illustrative purposes, the ‘Living Together through Sport’ program highlights the integration of young girls and children with disabilities. Adapted rules and a suitable framework allow them to play alongside their able-bodied comrades. The social worker Dénise VOSSADJI reminds us that ‘sport offers a neutral space where differences fade away.
It is a wonderful tool for social rehabilitation “. ” I discovered judo. It taught me respect and self-control. , says Moussa, 14 years old, beneficiary of a neighborhood sports center. ” Many children with school breaks find the taste for learning through sport. It is a springboard for their reintegration “, swears Pascal Zannou, a sports educator.
The initiatives of the federations…
The Beninese Football Federation is increasing the number of grassroots football schools, while the Beninese Rugby Federation is showcasing training programs in middle schools. These projects often receive support from international donors, which guarantees sustainability and dissemination.
Unfortunately, several obstacles hinder the full exploitation of sport as an educational tool because many rural schools do not have either developed grounds or equipment, PE sometimes remains relegated to the background and some families still believe that sport distracts children from the study.
In Benin, sport is gradually becoming a powerful driver of education and social inclusion. From the small section to adolescence, he learns respect for rules, a sense of effort, and solidarity. But to fully exploit this potential, sustainable investments, better training of supervisors and awareness among families are needed.