The announcement of an investment exceeding one million euros by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the French Development Agency (AFD) marks a new stage in the fight against youth delinquency in Southeast Asia. The decision to support eleven local organizations in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam reflects a profound conviction: sport as a safe space for young people. This effort not only aims to reduce risk factors, but also to strengthen communities facing social, economic, and cultural challenges that directly affect youth.
In this context, the Sport for Youth Crime Prevention Initiative (SYCP) emerges as a pioneering program designed to support vulnerable young people through a preventive, inclusive, and community-based approach. The selected organizations will carry out sports projects that integrate life skills, psychosocial support, and activities aimed at promoting social cohesion. At the opening of the SYCP conference, IOC member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul emphasized the importance of this work, highlighting how sport can build more resilient communities and create environments where young people feel seen, heard, and supported.
Eleven organizations united by a common goal: protecting and supporting young people
The beneficiary entities represent a diversity of local approaches and challenges, yet share the commitment to transform the lives of at-risk adolescents. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, initiatives led by CHIA, the Wheelchair Basketball Federation, and the Rugby Federation will focus on young people at risk of entering the judicial system, while the Gender Development Association will work in the remote province of Phongsaly to promote resilience and inclusion. In the Philippines, from karate programs promoted by ACCIÓN to leadership, sport, and justice initiatives led by the University of San José–Recoletos, the goal is to support young people outside the school system and from vulnerable communities, along with the Pass It Back program of the Rugby Union and the community work of the Fair Play for All Foundation.
Thailand and Vietnam will also play a key role in this regional intervention network. In Thailand, PlayOnSide, Dare Network, the Thai Hockey Association, and Nusantara will implement projects that combine sport with life-skills training, support for migrant youth, and reintegration processes for those who have faced conflict with the law. In Vietnam, organizations such as IRD VN, My Way Social Enterprise, and Football for All will develop programs integrating social and educational interventions, with a strong emphasis on socio-emotional learning, youth crime prevention, and the promotion of women’s sport as a driver of inclusion.
SYCP: a program that builds community and sustainability through sport
The SYCP Initiative, active until 2027, marks a path that goes beyond sports practice to become a central axis linking well-being, prevention, rehabilitation, and social inclusion. Its design includes a consortium coordinated by the Sports for Criminal Justice Alliance, which will oversee the implementation of projects in the four participating countries. The program also brings together national networks of sport and criminal justice, strengthening cross-sector cooperation and enhancing the capacity of communities to respond to challenges affecting youth.
Furthermore, the creation of a regional Community of Practice will enable organizations to share learning and build a common body of knowledge through conferences, webinars, a digital hub, and joint evaluation tools. This vision of continuous collaboration aligns with the Olympism365 strategy of the IOC, which promotes sport as a driver of sustainable development and as a catalyst for stronger social relationships. Within this framework, each local initiative not only addresses an immediate need but also contributes to a regional movement aimed at offering young people a safer, more dignified, and opportunity-filled future.
