Blogs and features from the Southeast Asia Sport and Youth Crime Prevention (SYCP) Initiative

“Women are often discouraged from participating in sports, so having a safe space like Women Lead training makes it possible to feel confident and empowered to play.”

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we hear about ‘PlayOnside’ from Naw Laura Htway, Programme Director PlayBook Foundation Thailand and Ole G. Michelsen, Country Director PlayOnside Norway. For more than a decade, PlayOnside has worked within migrant and refugee communities along the Thai-Myanmar border, using sport as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and gender equality. Since then, the programme has reached thousands of children and youth through regular sessions and local tournaments in Mae Sot and surrounding communities. Read more.

“Basketball is more than a game – it’s a tool for social transformation.”

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, Benedict Candia reports on Youth Basketball for Peace based in Cebu City, Philippines, which is being supported by the Southeast Asia SYCP Initiative. The programme uses basketball not only as a sport, but as a platform for peace-building, leadership development and crime prevention amongst young people, with a particular focus on supporting women and girls. In communities where young people can be vulnerable to violence, exclusion and limited opportunities, the programme transforms local basketball environments into safe, inclusive and empowering spaces. Read more.