Equal Access to Sports

Sport is the primary driver of engagement for reaching children and youth in DUNK’s communities. Equal Access to Sports means that all sporting activities are organized with an explicit psychosocial support framework, with zero tolerance for discrimination based on gender, background, or economic status. Facilities and safe play spaces are made accessible to street-connected children and youth who would otherwise have no structured sporting environment. DUNK actively recruits and retains girls and the most marginalized children, ensuring that participation is not limited to those with the means or confidence to seek it out.

DUNK delivers regular, structured sports sessions across multiple community locations using basketball, 5-a-side football, and dance as entry points for engagement. Sessions are facilitated by trained coaches and youth workers who integrate psychosocial support into every activity. Safe spaces are created by activating underused urban areas, including community grounds, car parks, and open lots.

The programme prioritizes children who are street-connected, out of school, or at risk of exploitation, and actively works to remove barriers to girls’ participation through gender-sensitive programming.