A yellow shirt revolution: Unexpected benefits of sport-for-development organizations on local community employees

Date Presented:

February 6

Abstract:

This thesis explores the effects of employment of local community members by sport-for-development organizations. Development scholarship focuses on the process of social change rather than the practice of it. At the same time, social-movement theory offers some insight into the outcome of participation in protests and movements. To date, no one has connected the two fields to gauge what the consequences of participating in development efforts via employment are, especially for members in disadvantaged communities. I argue that these development projects have a series of unintended personal consequences on employees—depending on their roles—that range from boosts in confidence, heightened senses of responsibility, and an increase in civic duty. Additionally, gender appears to impact the importance that employees give these benefits in their everyday life. This thesis further focuses on the mechanisms that enable such personal development, including measures of community involvement, organizational commitment, and self-understanding as the theory of change. My research is based on thirty-one staff interviews across three sites of Grassroots Soccer—a sport-for-development organization that uses soccer to provide HIV/AIDS education and mobilize communities throughout South Africa.