The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the French Development Agency (AFD) have launched an innovative initiative to address youth crime through sport in Southeast Asian countries. Under the name Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative in Southeast Asia (SYCP), the program aims to fund community projects that promote safer and more resilient communities through physical activity. This effort aligns with one of the 45 commitments of the Olympism365 Summit, focused on leveraging sport as a driver for sustainable development.
The program offers grants for organizations operating in Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam that work on preventing antisocial behavior among youth. In addition to providing financial resources, the plan includes the development of national and regional networks, professional training, and the promotion of evidence-based policies. Through this collaboration between the IOC, the AFD, and civil society, the goal is to generate a significant impact on youth well-being and the social environment.
A regional network to strengthen the impact of sport
The SYCP Initiative goes beyond funding: it proposes a collaborative strategy that brings together actors from sport, criminal justice, and youth development in a collective impact approach. Led by the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice (AoS), the consortium responsible for implementing the program in the four participating countries will work closely with a network of organizations to facilitate knowledge exchange, offer specialized training, and develop sustainable public policies over time.
According to Ollie Dudfield, Associate Director of Olympism365, this program shows how sport can empower youth and reduce the risk factors that lead to crime. For her part, Laureline Triby, Head of the Social Links Division at the AFD, emphasized that this collaboration with the IOC and civil society will accelerate the contribution of sport to building safer communities. James Mapstone, Executive Director of AoS, highlighted that this is a unique opportunity to align regional policies and practices, reinforcing the transformative role of sport in Southeast Asia.
