CGC’s SportWORKS - making a difference for the Paralympic movement in Guyana and Jamaica

CGC’s SportWORKS - making a difference for the Paralympic Movement in Guyana and Jamaica

The Sport Leadership Abroad Program (SLAP), a CGC SportWORKS initiative, places senior Canadian sport leaders (called SportWORKS Officers) into developing commonwealth countries to make a difference, and become different, within their field of expertise. Recently, Canadian Paralympian and current International Paralympic Committee (IPC) board member, Patrick Jarvis, travelled to Guyana and Jamaica utilizing his skills, knowledge and experience with Paralympic sport to further develop the Guyana Paralympic Organization (GPO) and Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA).

In Guyana, Patrick assisted in the development of the 2012 Action Plan serving as GPO’s foundation as it aspires to become a recognized organization within the IPC. Workshops took place in the offices of the Guyana Olympic Association with all members of the GPO Board of Directors participating.

In Jamaica, Patrick assisted JPA in strategic review, planning, grant proposal writing and marketing. The workshops took place at the JPA offices with members of JPA’s Board of Directors participating. The placement also included a visit to the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre where Patrick had the opportunity to meet several Jamaican Paralympians and other para-athletes aspiring to compete at the Paralympic Games.

“I was impressed by how well the para-athletes developed their athletic ability, but I was also profoundly dismayed by the inequity of resources. I am very familiar with the resources that para-athletes have access to in Canada and other nations, from facilities and equipment to financial support. That familiarity stands in stark contrast to what I knew to be the case in much of the world but powerfully reminded me of this by my visit to the centre,” said Patrick Jarvis. “However, it was clear that despite the inequities in resources, they were pursuing their goals and passions.”

Since the placement, there have been several positive exchanges and significant uptake of ideas by both organizations. GPO is on track to submitting its application for registration with the IPC and the JPA has committed salary support for an administration person, one of the recommendations from the strategic review.

Not only does CGC’s SportWORKS program make a difference in sport organizations abroad, SportWORKS Officers also become different.

“Despite sharing the same passions and beliefs in the power of sport, the capacity to implement necessary programs is unique to time and place. It was the uniqueness of the situation in both Jamaica and Guyana that refreshed my perspective on Paralympic sport development across the world and provided me the opportunity to recalibrate my own perceptions,” concluded Patrick Jarvis upon his return to Canada.