Sports for Development from the Perspective of the Youth in Worcester

There is an increasing literature on Sports for Development (SFD) that attempts to theorize, evaluate, and explain how sports can influence a variety of development issues in disadvantaged communities. However, most of the available evidence that suggest that participation in sports has a positive effect on health, education and social inclusion, do not target vulnerable youth population. Therefore, the importance of analyzing programs that target this group arises as a need to understand the significance that SFD have in the lives of vulnerable young people and their communities. Inspired by Ferguson´s approach to development, the present thesis will inquiry what does sports do in the context of development? and what does sports do in the lives of the youth (from vulnerable backgrounds) in Worcester? The scope of this analysis is a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) called Fit2Run, that provides training in athletics to underprivileged youth in Worcester, South Africa, and the subjects of analysis are eight of its athletes, the trainer and community leader, as well as a former gangster. Using qualitative methods this thesis reaffirm that sport is associated to benefits like relaxation or stress and anxiety relief, however, is when the athletes talk about Fit2Run that development outcomes are recognized.