Philippines National Network: SYCP Initiative is helping ‘different elements fall into place’, says Commissioner
The Philippines National Network (PNN) has continued to build momentum as part of the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative, bringing together senior representatives from government, sport and civil society to strengthen the role of sport in preventing harm, reducing youth crime and building safer, more resilient communities.
Convened on Friday 3 July, the meeting provided an opportunity for partners to reflect on national progress, identify shared priorities and begin shaping the next phase of collective action and capacity building in the Philippines.
COMMITMENT
The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Edward Hayco of the Philippines Sports Commission (pictured below), who opened the session by sharing examples from his long-standing work using sport and physical activity intentionally to engage communities and reduce crime.
This included his involvement in several pioneering initiatives, including the internationally recognised “Cebu’s dancing inmates” programme, which demonstrated the potential of structured physical activity to support discipline, rehabilitation and positive change.
Commissioner Hayco said: “We have been doing this work for many years, but the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative has provided a framework that has helped the different elements fall into place.
“We are now working more collaboratively to develop programmes that can operate at scale and reach more young people, coaches and teachers across the Philippines. This is only the beginning. We thank the International Olympic Committee and the Agence Française de développement for their support, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice and the Initiative’s wider partners.”
Mélanie Brin, Project Officer of the Agence Française de développement, welcomed the progress being made and the commitment shown by partners across the Philippines. She said: “The progress of the Philippines National Network demonstrates the value of bringing government, sport and civil society together around a shared ambition. This network creates opportunities for stakeholders to share experiences and learn from one another. In the current context, we must continue adapting, strengthening our capacities, and learning from each other. AFD is pleased to support an initiative that is not only reaching young people through sport, but also strengthening the partnerships, evidence and structures needed to create sustainable change.
“So far in the Philippines, the programme has fostered commitments from the Philippine Sports Commission, as Mr Hayco mentioned, and from the Department of Justice to advance work on gender-based violence. It is encouraging that this initiative creates opportunities to promote gender equality, as women also have an important role to play in the sports sector. Overall, we look forward to seeing the learning from the Philippines contribute to wider progress across Southeast Asia.”
NETWORKS
James Mapstone, Chief Executive of the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, provided an update on the SCYP Initiative, including progress made by the respective networks in Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. He highlighted the growing importance of the national networks in identifying common challenges, strengthening co-ordination between agencies and ensuring that learning from local delivery can contribute to national policy, investment and programme development.
James said: “The progress being made in the Philippines shows what becomes possible when committed leaders and organisations come together around a shared purpose. The Network is not simply a forum for discussion. It is becoming a mechanism through which partners can align their expertise, resources and responsibilities, strengthen the evidence base and develop approaches capable of reaching more young people. The opportunity now is to turn that collective intent into coordinated and sustained action.”
During the meeting, members reflected on the purpose and future role of the Philippines National Network, identified shared priorities and considered the support required to strengthen delivery, evidence and collaboration. Partners also explored the potential for the Network to become a more permanent national mechanism, embedded within the responsibilities and structures of participating departments and institutions.
The discussion demonstrated that considerable work is already taking place across the country. Representatives from the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency shared their experience of delivering the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Line Up Live Up programme, alongside a more recent pilot that uses judo as a platform for engaging young people and supporting positive development.
These examples reinforced the importance of connecting existing programmes, expertise and learning rather than allowing promising practice to remain isolated.
REGIONAL
Following the national meeting, the Philippines hosted the Initiative’s first Regional Network meeting on Monday 6 July, bringing together representatives from the Philippines, Lao PDR and Thailand. See picture below.
Participants shared national progress, challenges and emerging opportunities, identifying several common areas where countries could learn from one another and strengthen regional alignment. The discussion also considered how the pilot countries can collectively provide a strong regional voice for sport and youth crime prevention, while generating the learning, evidence and partnerships required to influence future policy, investment and scale.
The meeting marked an important step in connecting national action with a wider regional movement – ensuring that the experience of the four pilot countries can inform future approaches across Southeast Asia and beyond.
The Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative was initiated by the International Olympic Committee and the Agence Française de Développement. It is delivered by the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, in collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good, Upshot and many more.
The Initiative is currently working across Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to strengthen the use of sport and physical activity within approaches to youth crime prevention, social inclusion, safer and more resilient communities.
The continued progress being made in the Philippines demonstrates what can happen when committed organisations come together around a common goal – and when that collaboration is supported by a backbone organisation capable of connecting partners, strengthening coordination and helping turn shared ambition into sustained action.
See also: SYCP Initiative takes important step forward following Thailand National Network workshop.