Africa Active Community Clubs
Active Community Clubs – active people for better communities!
The Active Community Clubs (ACC) initiative is designed to improve the physical and social health of communities through participation in physical activity.
The key word is active. Community members become more physically active through involvement in sport, recreation and cultural activities, and the community becomes active in taking control of its future – becoming a truly empowered community.
The concept was developed by the Australian Sports Commission in conjunction with several communities of the Eastern Cape of South Africa as part of the Australia–Africa 2006 Sports Development Program funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
Vision
Build an environment where ‘all people are actively involved in sport, recreation and cultural activities – designed, developed and delivered at community level by community members and supported by all stakeholders.’
Goals
- To increase and enhance lifelong participation in physical activity.
- To realise the social, health and economic benefits of participation in physical activity.
- Develop quality delivery systems, opportunities and services to support participation in physical activity at community level.
- To contribute to the personal development of community volunteers.
Benefits of ACC to Communities
The recognised benefits of the program are:
- Improved health and quality of life
- Improved community harmony and unity
- Improved delivery systems, programs and services
- Increased performance of athletes, coaches, administrators and technical officials
- Increased employment opportunities for youth
- Contribution to poverty alleviation at community level
Six Steps to Creating a Successful ACC in your Community
- A community that would like to start a club should begin by contacting the program manager.
- The community, together with the program manager agree on which activities will be appropriate and beneficial and prioritise them to suit the community. Always aim to start with lower intensive activities that will ensure success and thus encourage the community to continue and improve.
- The community group calls for volunteers. Directions for attracting volunteers will be given by the program manager in consultation with the community group.
- Program manager to train volunteers on how to coordinate activities and entire program.
- Activities begin.
- Together with the program manager, review the activities and evaluate the success and what areas can be improved and where you can add more benefit to the community.
Become an ACC Partner
The ACC is an initiative brought about through the Australia-Africa 2006 Sport Development Program and began in 2002.
Private sector companies, National Government Organisations and government agencies can also join in and give back to the community by supporting the implementation of the Active Community Clubs program. This program has had outstanding success in many communities and it is an ideal way to give back to the community. Sport and recreational activities are fun, engaging and most importantly, provide people with a great opportunity to unite.
Being a sponsor of the Active Community Clubs program not only has benefits for government or private organisations, it benefits the community in many ways, including:
- Low cost program to implement and maintain
- Proven vehicle for building community cohesion
- Provides training for youth in life skills
- Reduces criminal activities through mass participation
- Can easily be implemented in a community within a few months
- Promotes healthy lifestyles
The ACC program is searching for organisations that are able to provide funds to assist with the overall running of the program and ensure maximum benefit to each of the community groups.
If your organisation is looking for a unique initiative where they can give back to the community and assist in people’s growth and development, See contact details below. Our program manager can assist you in partnering with a relevant community group and ensure you receive maximum exposure through your partnership.
- An Impact Study on the Active Community Clubs Initiatives (
PDF - 2.6 mb)
