“Sport has the power to help develop the potential of individuals, communities and nations. It encourages personal growth, is a major force in eliminating gender barriers and can build bridges across lines that might otherwise divide.”
Message from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on the 6th of April, 2015.
International Sport’s Day is an occasion for CAMELEON to revisit one of its flagship programmes: Education through Sport and the Circus.
In a country where sport is not often practised and does not feature strongly in children’s schooling, CAMELEON offers a range of rich and varied sporting activities to its beneficiaries .The 310 children sponsored by the villages around the Center and the 110 young girls, victims of sexual violence, supported by the Association, can, therefore, enjoy several activities. The programme offers training sessions in basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, dancing and taekwondo, as well as other recreational activities, such as, outdoor games, outings, summer camps, music and dance workshops.
For CAMELEON, sport and especially the circus, have therapeutic effects and thus, play a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of girls who have been victims of sexual abuse. These activities are rewarding as they enable children to come out of their shells, develop self-confidence, have fun and build a positive image of themselves.
Sport also encourages the development of skills that are essential for personal growth; they will form an integral part of the personal and professional lives of these youngsters, with regards to time management, decision-making, conflict resolution, communication and management.
For the Association, education in sports and the circus plays a key role in the success of its young beneficiaries and in the improvement of their physical, psychological and social conditions.
