Abstract:
There is growing concern about the future of today s youth. Concerns result from an increase
in adolescent problem behaviours which are related to delinquency, drug use and alcohol abuse
and also due to changing social forces, both parents working, single parent homes and increases
in youth unsupervised time at home alone. Youth development is part of the government, and
various other stakeholders portfolios, and priority. Sport and recreation youth camps could
serve as a vehicle for youth development for young people across South Africa to come together
and use the power of sport and recreation to tackle the complex issues which challenge them
and explore various initiatives to overcome multiple youth challenges (SASR, 2012). The
overall aim of this study was to explore the perceived contribution of sport to youth
development at sport and recreation youth camps in rural communities in South Africa. A
literature review in sport-for-development and youth development was used to identify and
draw comparisons between good practices and sport and recreation youth camps perceived
outcomes. This study used a qualitative, descriptive approach to pose the following research
question:
Does sport in sport and recreation youth camps contribute to the perceived personal
development of rural youths in South Africa?
Based on the abovementioned research question, it was hypothesised that youths perceive sport
as contributing to personal development and sport and recreation youth camps reflect good
organisational practices.
Results of the study included perceived personal development outcomes, social development
skills resulting from participating in sport and recreation youth camps and good practices for
effective utilisation of sport as a vehicle to achieve youth development. Overall results obtained
from the interviews revealed that sport in sport and recreation youth camps provided rural
community youth with opportunity to develop personal and social skills. The conclusion of the study confirmed that youths perceive sport as contributing to personal
development during sport and recreation youth camps and indicated that a number of good
practices for youth development were not reflected. The study concludes with recommending
that Sport and Recreation South Africa examine barriers that may unintentionally exclude
individuals and groups eligible to participate in sport and recreation youth camps and
developing strategies to address those barriers, develop strategic partnership with other
government departments, sport organisations, NGOs and private sector to achieve desired
outcomes.
Implications for further study focus on sustainability of sport and recreation youth camps;
support of ongoing learning and continuous programme improvement; monitoring and
evaluation of sport and recreation youth camps: and quality of youth camps leadership.
