Question: Please tell us about your work in the domain and what stimulated your interest in this area in particular?

 

Janine Thornhill: I have been involved in sport all my life; hence the reason sport is my passion. I started swimming at the age of 3 years old and quickly progressed in the sport from entry level to competitive level. Not only did sport provide a platform for me to challenge myself and my talent in the water, but it also contributed to my overall physical, psychological and social development. I saw the positive attributes that sport contributed to my development and the life skills that have stuck with me to this day. It was these experiences that prompted me to pursue my academic studies in Sport Management and Sport for Development.

 

In this field, I have worked at the administrative level, contributing to the implementation, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of Sport for Development and Peace  initiatives across the Caribbean region. As chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace (CYSDP) Working Group, together with my team, I have contributed towards raising the profile of Sport for Development and Peace in Commonwealth nations and providing recommendations to Commonwealth Sport Ministers about youth development policies. The CYSDP Working Group saw the need for young people to have a voice and continues to harness the opportunity to influence decision-makers and represent the many young people that make up our society.

 

Question: How does sport contribute to development and peace among young people?

 

Janine Thornhill: Besides providing a basis for healthy living, the unique attributes of sport also capture the interest of young people and act as a global platform for social inclusion. Through my involvement in sport, I have experienced first-hand the level of discipline, focus and responsibility that was instilled in my peers and I. But at the same time, it is much more than that. Sport taught me things about myself physically, mentally and emotionally that could not be taught any other way. Sport has allowed me to see direct results of my hard work and dedication. When I competed, whether it was at local or international competitions, I always knew that I had a team of young people supporting and cheering me on, and in turn, I felt the need to support and cheer them on too. Through these experiences, my teammates have grown to be my best friends.

In fact, sport teaches you how to work cohesively with others, to push yourself to what you thought was your “limit” and then surpass that limit. Character building is a huge part of all of the sports that I have played and they have turned me into the person that I am today. However, the main reason that I have participated and continue to participate in sports is actually for  the team bond. I have never experienced such camaraderie with anyone as deep and true as my swimming team. When you put your team uniform on and step on the field of play, there is such a strong sense of being part of the team and so much tradition to uphold. In addition, sport can definitely contribute to youth development by giving young people a positive identity, feelings of empowerment and help youth acquire life-long skills such as leadership, teamwork and self-governance.

 

Question: What are some of your accomplishments in your work to date and what would be your goals going forward?

 

Janine Thornhill: Some of my major accomplishments to date include being nominated Chairperson of the CYSDP Working Group and becoming the youth representative on the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS). I participated in many Sport for Development and Peace forums such as the recently held Commonwealth Sport Policy Expert Roundtable and was a panellist at the Commonwealth 2nd Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development (in commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2017). I also contributed towards the publication of the CYSDP Youth Advocacy Toolkit and utilized this resource to facilitate Sport for Development and Peace workshops across my country, Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Moving forward, my goal is to expand CYSDP from a Working Group to a wider Network across the Commonwealth, bridging the gap between the grassroots level and policy level. In addition, as we observed the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6, 2017, through CYSDP’s platform, I encouraged Governments to consider establishing roles and responsibilities for youth leaders in youth development policy, including dedicated positions on decision-making bodies as well as creating platforms to open conversations on Sport and Sustainable Development with young athletes, coaches and officials.

 

Question: How do you see the work of institutions/organizations on sport for development and peace aiding the youth development process? What resources are available to young people from these institutions/organizations?

 

Janine Thornhill: I think the work of local, regional and international institutions on sport for development and peace has increased considerably. Dozens of organizations have tapped into the power of sport for development and peace. While there is a greater need for further collaboration between the international levels of Sport for Development and Peace and practitioners at the local levels, institutional work has proven to enhance development and peace among young people through sport. Through many organizations, young people have access to research, funding and grants, platforms for networking, practical manuals and toolkits, mentorship, and operational support.

 

Question: How can youth get involved in sport for greater development and peace in their communities as well as at the regional and international level?

 

Janine Thornhill: I urge young people to get involved through active participation in any sport whether through playing the game or volunteering as a coach or official, and in Sport for Development and Peace youth-led groups that promote and advocate for best practices in sport. Young people can get started by getting involved in their community clubs, youth groups, youth councils, as well as joining platforms for collaboration and critical influence such as the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group. In communities where there are no Sport for Development and Peace initiatives, I encourage young people to design and implement their own programs and initiatives.

 

In addition, I strongly encourage young people to position themselves at the decision-making level, in order to provide input into policies and systems designed for youth development through sport. It is important that they are represented at the table of policy design and implementation. Platforms such as these provide young people with the opportunity to make a significant contribution toward the positive movement of Sport for Development and Peace.

 

About Janine Thornhill: Janine Thornhill (@thornhilljanine) is the current Chair of the Commonwealth’s leading youth network promoting the use of sport as a tool for achieving development objectives, particularly in youth development. Janine has been a member of the CYSDP Working Group since 2014 and played a key role in the development of the CYSDP Youth Advocacy Toolkit, a tool to assist young leaders across the Commonwealth to advocate for Sport for Development and Peace approaches. A former competitive swimmer, Janine also works for Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs as a Facility Manager of a Community Recreational Facility, where she encourages young people to actively participate in swimming programs designed to develop youth holistically.