THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL ASIA
NOT JUST FOR KICKS
Julia Schipper (Right To Play)
BANGKOK, THAILAND
In Thailand, crime and anti-social behaviour amongst young people is a growing problem, due to limited attention within the education system and a lack of social services to support vulnerable youth. The juvenile crime rate here is higher than in neighbouring South Asian countries. Gang crime, petty theft and drug abuse are all on the rise, particularly within Bangkok (UNODC 2015). In addition, in Bangkok, just like many other Asian cities, there is a lack of functioning, safe and accessible spaces to deliver sports-based approaches that can have a long term impact upon youth and their local communities. The government, United Nations and other organisations recognise the importance of sport and play to act as a prevention and / or rehabilitation mechanism for at-risk youths. This includes using football to promote life skill development to help young people practise non-violent conflict resolution methods, as well as soft skills, such as confidence, leadership, communication and interpersonal skills. All of these outcomes have significant impacts on social inclusion, community building and youth civic engagement. They can help young people become more informed, and engage more meaningfully with each other and with larger society. 250
