Youth and Sport Task Force

The Youth and Sport Task Force is a network of youth leaders that leverages the use of sport as a tool for achieving sustainable development. Established by UNESCO, a specialized United Nations agency, and Youthandsport.org in 2017, the Task Force was initially created as an ad-hoc community of individuals working on youth and sport issues in Southeast Asia, each with their own local-level sport programs. In 2019, the Task Force expanded to 60 youth members, representing 28 countries across Asia and the Pacific.

As a group, the youth members direct the Task Force's strategic vision. The Task Force gives youth a platform to express their thoughts and opinions on global issues, as well as to participate in them by connecting with policymakers and the global community. The network is viewed as a model for engaging diverse youth and keeping them engaged for the broader social impact, in a much more sustainable way than traditional approaches.

This year, Bridge to Health partnered with UNESCO to prepare a report on the state of sport in Asia-Pacific, placing particular emphasis on participation in sport as a preventer for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).?

NCDs are one of the most concerning health challenges of our time, attributing to 71% of the health-related deaths worldwide, of which 85% are in low-and middle-income countries. Although the data is still emerging, the effects of global lockdowns and stay-at-home orders are expected to exacerbate these already alarming figures.

We have also developed a Communications and Knowledge Management strategy together with the Task Force members to support growth and expansion in 2022. Bridge to Health will play a crucial role in bolstering the advocacy efforts next year, while supporting with expanding research into the health benefits of community sport.

#Healthequity #Globalhealthcare #ngo #charity #nonprofit #education #donate #volunteer #bthusa #bthglobal #bthcanada