Welcome to the March edition of the Sport for Development newsletter. Despite the uncertainties in international development, we remain committed to sharing the latest achievements and ongoing impact of our programs.
Following up on International Women’s Day last week, we highlight female empowerment in sports through our partnership with KNHB, The Royal Dutch Hockey Association. As a global hockey leader, the Netherlands plays a key role in creating opportunities for women and strengthening local structures for long-term impact.
Together, we continue to drive positive change for women and girls in sports.
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One of the key Sport for Development partners is KNHB (The Royal Dutch Hockey Association), which promotes life skills development through sports and play while providing education opportunities to hockey coaches and players. By investing in coaches, they help young people set goals, take charge of their futures, and become game changers in their communities.
Through its implementing partners, KNHB strengthens grassroots hockey development in India, Uganda and Malawi. In 2024 alone, these KNHB’s hockey programs trained 35 female coaches out of 93 total coaches and engaged 3.629 girls out of 8.018 youth participants. Many of these coaches have transformed their passion into part-time or full-time careers, demonstrating how sports can serve as an impuls for employment, leadership, and development.
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Women driving hockey’s growth in Uganda
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As someone deeply involved in Ugandan hockey, Bridget Baine (Executive Committee Member of the Uganda Hockey Association and Coach at Gayaza High School & Kampala Hockey Club Uganda),knows all about the powerful impact that sports can have on individuals and communities.
Over the years, she has seen firsthand how Hockey Dreams Foundation (HDF) has transformed the landscape of women’s hockey in Uganda, not just by strengthening the sport but by creating life-changing opportunities for female athletes, coaches, and leaders.
Through grassroots development, HDF has built a foundation for young female players to grow, compete, and lead. Their commitment to empowering coaches extends beyond technical skills, they invest in education, leadership, and soft skills, ensuring that every coach and player develops into a well-rounded professional.
"By integrating mental health awareness, gender equality training, and sexual, menstrual & reproductive health (SRHR) programs, they provide a safe and supportive environment without limitations."
Hockey Dreams Foundation has also played a key role in elevating Uganda’s National Hockey League by producing skilled female athletes who now play at the highest level. The training programs have helped both male and female coaches lead successful women’s teams, creating a stronger, more inclusive hockey community.
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Two major initiatives aimed at strengthening female participation in hockey:
✔ Community Activity in Naguru – A girls’ empowerment session that engaged at least 60 young female athletes, focusing on breaking down barriers to participation in sports and education.
✔ Community Training with the Uganda Hockey Association – A gathering of over 60 female hockey players and coaches, the session tackled critical questions such as:
"Why do female players have inconsistent attendance at training and matches? Why do women drop out of sports earlier than men?
What solutions can we implement to keep women engaged in hockey?"
Through these open discussions, female players and coaches developed actionable strategies to sustain participation in women’s hockey and drive long-term change.
For Bridget, KNHB’s work is more than just sport. She has seen young girls grow into leaders, coaches turn their passion into professional careers, and an entire community unite behind the growth of women’s hockey in Uganda.
With continued support, more girls will have the opportunity to develop, compete, and lead through hockey.
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Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality
Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by ensuring equal opportunities and eliminating barriers to participation.The KNHB contributes to this goal by fostering female leadership, creating inclusive environments and providing training opportunities that equip women with skills. By breaking stereotypes and increasing female representation in coaching and decision-making roles, these initiatives help build a more equitable future where women and girls have the same opportunities to thrive in sports and beyond.
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Sport for Development Program
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Sport for Development empowers youth to create lasting change in their communities through the power of sports and play. This program, funded by the Dutch government, is a powerful initiative aimed at contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and cultivating meaningful youth engagement and social impact on a global scale.
For over 20 years, the program supports a world where children and young adults actively contribute to vital communities. This not only promotes healthier lifestyles through sports and play, but also improves access to formal and informal education, gender equality, women's participation, employability and entrepreneurship. Sport for Development creates safe spaces for youth to explore and embrace their authentic selves.
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The program is implemented in six different regions worldwide through a powerful partnership between the International Sports Alliance (ISA), Right To Play (RTP), the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), and the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB). Together, these partners form a solid collaboration and use sports as an impactful means to promote social change, well-being, education, equality, peace and employment.
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PARTNERS
SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT
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