UK Sport

IDEALS Namibia: Learning to lead

Students David and Nikole with some students at Dr Frans Primary School

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UK Sport 30 June 2011

At the beginning of June, six students and one team leader from Liverpool John Moores University arrived in Windhoek, Namibia to begin their eight week IDEALS placement. The students work in groups of two between three local organisations; SCORE Changing Lives Through Sport, PAY (Physically Active Youth) and Special Olympics.

At the half way point the Ryan Stewart, team leader reflects: “It has been really encouraging to see the development of all the students over this last week as most of them are now in a routine of where to go and what is expected of them.”

The students all have slightly different roles within their respective organisations and shared learning and reflection is encouraged between the students at the end of the day, when they return home.

David Jamison and Nikole Smith both work with SCORE. Their weeks involve working with local volunteers to deliver physical education (PE) sessions at schools around Windhoek, with a focus on skills development. Both have had to think on their feet when faced with large classes with no educators, dealing with children not listening and language barriers. With subtle adaptations, David and Nikole are finding great success in working in the local schools.
Alex Shimmin and Jess Mills are placed with Special Olympics and have quickly been adapting to the coaching styles required to worked with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as bringing their own style and flavour to training sessions and supporting competitions and tournaments.

Emma Spittlehouse and Ryan Jago have overcome some initial nerves about being involved in the academic side of PAY’s program by fully contributing to the organisation with their strong work ethic. Both actively look for innovative ways to enhance the work of PAY and it is paying off.

The group are constantly tested in leadership positions and Ryan has been on hand to give them support and feedback. Whilst they are working hard in the week, the weekends have been spent sand boarding and quad biking and eating traditional Namibian food.
At the half way point, the team leader departs Namibia leaving the students to continue working in the placements, and offering support to each other as they aim to end on a high with a big sports festival.

Emma Spittlehouse, David Jamison, Nikole Smith, Alex Shimmin, Jess Mills, Ryan Jago return to the UK on 26 July 2011.

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