SVGOC leads Certificate Leadership Course for Community organisations

Forty -two participants have embarked on the first phase of the Certified Leadership Course (CLC) of the Association for International Sport for All(TAFISA).

Led by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee (SVGOC), the course that started on June 3, and runs until June 6, 2026, at Frenches House, Kingstown, is part of its SUCCEED Initiative.

Degra Michael

The participants are drawn from community groups across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the Paralympics Movement, as well as personnel from within the Ministry of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage.

Degra Michael, a representative from the Empowerment Division, speaking at the opening ceremony, on June 3, highlighted the significance of the course to national development and social cohesion.

“It is not just theory; it is action at work. It is about communities identifying what the needs are, setting clear goals and finding practical solutions, and it is showing that sports is not all about competition; it is a tool for social cohesion and resilience”, Michael expounded.

As part of the course, community groups are to come up with projects within their locales, which are do-able, and will be provided the necessary funding for implementation.

Apart from Michael Junior Minister in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information, Senator Lavern King, TAFISA’s representative Ytannia Wiggins, and the general secretary of the SVGOC Keith Joseph, gave remarks at the opening ceremony.

Among the topics being addresses are: The Transformative Power of Sport for All Worldwide; Navigating Global Voices in Sport for all Policy and Strategy; and Empowering Positive Leadership in Sport for All.

Designed to develop leadership and skills, strengthen policy understanding and implementation, promote inclusivity, diversity, and safeguarding, the CLC encourages community engagements through the strengthening of community development groups.

The participants will be at it again from August 8-12, 2026, when they embark on phase two.