On the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), the Youth Charter is issuing a global Call to Action urging greater coordinated efforts across governments, institutions, and civil society to harness the power of sport in delivering the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For over three decades, the Youth Charter has championed sport as a powerful tool to engage, empower, and elevate the lives of young people and their communities. In this critical decade of action for the SDGs, we must move from policy to practice, from words to action, ensuring that sport is not only recognised but fully integrated into national and global development strategies.
Geoff Thompson, Founder and Chair of the Youth Charter, stated: “Sport for Development and Peace is more than a slogan—it is a proven, practical framework to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges: inequality, violence, health, education, and youth unemployment. Today, we renew our commitment and call on all stakeholders to collaborate in realising the full potential of sport as a force for sustainable development.”
The Youth Charter’s Community Campus model and Social Coach Leadership Programme continue to demonstrate how grassroots engagement through sport, arts, culture, and digital innovation can create meaningful change. By mapping, tracking, and measuring impact aligned with the UN SDGs, the Youth Charter is building a legacy of social, cultural, and economic empowerment for future generations.
This Call to Action is directed to:
- National and Local Governments: Integrate sport for development into education, health, and community policy frameworks.
- Funding Agencies and Philanthropy: Invest in scalable and sustainable sport-based initiatives that align with SDG outcomes.
- Civil Society and NGOs: Partner on inclusive, community-driven programmes using sport to reach the most vulnerable.
- Youth and Community Leaders: Mobilise and mentor the next generation through sport-led civic engagement and leadership.
As we mark this important day, the Youth Charter reaffirms its mission to leave noone behind and invites the global community to join our #GlobalCall2Action. Together, we can build a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable world—one community, one young person, and one game at a time.
