Ubuntu4All | Educational and Social Projects
ONE SPIRIT, ONE TEAM
Changing Lives Together
Where it all starts
Gangs are groups of children, adolescents and young
adults who share a common identity and are involved
in wrongful or delinquent activities. Most gang
members tend to be adolescents or young adults,
however, recent trends indicate that children are
being recruited into gangs at a much earlier age,
some when they are in elementary school.
Traditionally, gang activity has been confined to
cities but gangs are no longer just in large cities,
they also exist in smaller towns and rural areas.
Gangs can include people of every gender, race,
culture and socioeconomic group.
Some children and adolescents are motivated to join
a gang for a sense of connection or to define a new
sense of who they are. Others are motivated by peer
pressure, a need to protect themselves and their
family, because a family member also is in a gang, or
to make money.
One of the worst effects of gang membership is the
exposure to violence. Gang members may be
pressured to commit a crime to become part of the
gang. Consequences of gang membership may
include exposure to drugs and alcohol, ageinappropriate sexual behavior, difficulty finding a job
because of lack of education and work skills, removal
from ones family, imprisonment and
even death
ONE SPIRIT, ONE TEAM
Risk factors that can contribute to
the risk that children and
adolescents join a gang include
Growing up in an area with heavy
gang activity.
A history of gang involvement in
the family (family members who
are current or former gang
members).
A history of violence in the home
Too little adult supervision.
Unstructured free time, particularly
during after-school hours and on
the weekends.
Announcements, Events, and
Updates
A lack of positive roles models and
exposure to media (television,
movies, music) that glorifies gang
violence
Low self esteem
Sense of hopelessness about the
future because of limited
educational or financial
opportunity
Underlying mental-health issues or
behavioral disorders, such as
oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
and attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
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Ubuntu4All | Educational and Social Projects
SPORT HOLDS POWER
When you think of the word “sports” you most likely think of the basics
which include netball, basket ball, rugby and soccer. For most people
these are the first words that come to their mind. For us, at Ubuntu4All
EASP, when we hear the word, we think of all of the benefits one receives
while playing sports especially when you’re young and in school.
Therefore, we thought of how sports can be used as a beacon of hope for
school children involved in gangsterism and oppressed by the negative
social and environmental factors within their community. Through close
observation we conclude that sports play a big part of a child’s life
especially children in economically oppressed communities. The
importance and benefits they will receive by playing sports will have a
major impact on their future and will only be realized later on in life.
These are patterns that will not only help them in their current situation
in life but in their future as well. These are one of the key skills they in
becoming a successful individual and a productive member of society.
Unfortunately, not all children come from loving, caring, and supporting
homes. Many children within the IY community have conformed to the
ways of gang doctrines and substance abuse, especially children who are
still students and not long after become dropouts.
"Motivation and
encouragement
| the sky is the
limit."
Many people believe that
various attitudes and social
skills (e.g., improved selfesteem, goal-setting) can be
developed through sport. As
we have seen, many of these
potential benefits have not
yet been proven through
research. However, some –
including reduced stress,
increased academic
performance and improved family relations – have been shown to be
protective factors for substance abuse. So, sport can be used to prevent
problems among youth.
Through the sports initiative we have observed a positive effect sports
played in the lives of the adolescence, such as:
Relieves boredom by giving structure to free time
promote socialization by introducing rules to be followed
cooperate with others to achieve goals
establish and overcome risks
discover their limitations
make friends and strengthen relationships with others
discover their gifts and talents
importance of keeping in shape
maintain good mental health
learn how to respect others
share a common goal with others
develop loyalty, commitment and perseverance
promote cultural values
reduce stress
These are only a few of the ways that sports contribute to the development
of children and adolescence. In prevention, we see these as protective
factors or assets that potentially can be developed through sports, and helps
prevent the influences of gangsterism, substance abuse and overall crime.
ONE SPIRIT, ONE TEAM
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Ubuntu4All | Educational and Social Projects
What we offer
But it's not as simple as “throwing the ball on the field” and
hoping it will happen. And sports may not be the answer in
every situation. Pushing sport on an unwilling group of
young people will not work. However, most people do enjoy
some form of sport when it is presented respectfully and
they see it as a choice. The world of sport offers many
choices that can appeal to a range of interests, and which
can develop particular strengths or protective factors in
youth. For example:
Team sports such as soccer and rugby may be
particularly good for developing social skills such as
communication, conflict management and working
effectively with others toward a common goal;
Individual sports, table tennis, may be particularly suited
to developing self-reliance, self-discipline and personal
goal setting;
Extreme sports, such as mountain hiking or rock
climbing, can build self-reliance and fill the need for
adventure and a measure of risk that may serve as an
alternative to drug use for some young people;
Outdoor sports, like cycling, can increase appreciation
and care for the natural environment;
Indigenous sports like those played by Aboriginal people
around the world can help young people to connect with
their culture and traditions.
"Motivation and
encouragement
| the sky is the
limit."
These are only a few of the ways that sports contribute to
the development of children and adolescence. In prevention,
we see these as protective factors or assets that potentially
can be developed through sports, and helps prevent the
influences of gangsterism, substance abuse and overall
crime.
These are a few of the sports that Ubuntu4All offers the
youth in the community. We encourage and motivate our
participant to never give up - the sky is their limit
ONE SPIRIT, ONE TEAM
PAGE 03