Simon Darnell, an associate professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE), has a long-standing interest in the relationship between sport and international development. For a number of years, the director of KPE’s Centre for Sport Policy Studies has been studying programs around the world that organize and implement sport to support social development and peace building, particularly in places of poverty, unrest or marginalization.
In 2014, he started teaching a course on international development through sport, designed to facilitate an informed and critical analysis of sport for development and peace (SDP) in social, institutional and practical terms.
“I’ve always wanted to incorporate an international, experiential component to the course,” says Darnell. This summer, his wish became reality.
The course, offered by KPE in partnership with the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, started with three weeks of reading, thinking and talking about SDP in the classroom in Toronto, followed by two weeks of fieldwork in Jamaica and one final week in Toronto to recap and debrief.
While in Jamaica, Darnell and his students stayed in the UWI dorms.
“The two weeks we were in Jamaica were effectively a combination of cultural immersion in Jamaica alongside participatory research into SDP,” says Darnell. “Our students really brought very positive energy to the experience.
“They participated in the SDP programs, asked good questions, and I thought really embraced the opportunity and challenge to step outside their comfort zones.
“Pedagogically, I think we got to experience and discuss the same ideas that I talk about in the classroom, but with a depth and richness that I could never achieve if were sitting in a room on the U of T campus.”
Shaheer Farooq, a third year kinesiology student (in green shirt on the right), says traveling to Jamaica for the course was an extraordinary experience that brought the theoretical aspects of the course to life in ways that staying in Toronto could never have done.
“Immersing myself in a new culture and environment allowed me to witness firsthand how sport can be a powerful tool for community building and social change,” says Farooq. “The coursework, which involved working with kids from the Child Resilience Project and Fight for Peace, was eye-opening and humbling.
“Interacting with these children, understanding their challenges and seeing the positive impact of sport on their lives provided invaluable insights.”
Farooq says the on-the-ground experience highlighted the importance of cultural context in developing and implementing effective sport for development initiatives.
“Collaborating with local organizations and seeing their innovative approaches to problem-solving broadened my understanding of how to adapt strategies to different environments and needs,” he says.
Farooq also highlights the rich cultural experiences and bonds that were formed during the trip – between classmates, instructor, student advisors and the local community.
“The culture in Jamaica was vibrant and captivating, from the rhythmic reggae music to the flavorful cuisine, including delicious local dishes like jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, and fresh tropical fruits,” he says. ““The warmth and friendliness of the Jamaican people made us feel incredibly welcome.
“A special highlight was the close relationships we developed with Professor Darnell and our student advisors.
“This sense of camaraderie and mutual support was a testament to the power of shared experiences and the impact of immersive learning.”
Farooq’s classmate, third year kinesiology student Jadyn Brooks (in the white shirt), describes the experience of travelling to Jamaica for the course as “the most rewarding and eye-opening experience she’s ever been a part of.”
“From my class time before the trip, to my time in Jamaica and after, I felt a difference in my understanding of the course material and saw a difference in my peers’ understanding through our participation in class discussions,” says Brooks, adding that interacting with the local children will be something she will look back on for years to come.
“Beyond things I learned in class, I also discovered what I’m passionate about and could potentially pursue in the future,” she says.
Brooks particularly enjoyed immersing herself in the culture, watching the track and field Grand Prix, meeting Jaydon Hibbert, a Jamaican track and field athlete who, at the age of 17, won the gold medal in the triple jump at the 2022 World Under-20 Championships, visiting the Bob Marley Museum and experiencing a ‘pretty terrifying’ hour plus long drive up a mountain to go to one of the national parks, Hollywell.
“We ate mango straight from the trees, bonded over eating soup in 30+ degree weather and drank from coconuts 4000+ feet high on a mountain,” says Brooks. “This class provided more than learning, we grew together - as both friends and scholars.”