Blending Sport and Culture: Safiya Sylvester's Leadership Journey to Community Empowerment

^{TAFISA is collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through its Olympism365 strategy to initiate a global framework dedicated to fostering community empowerment and development through capacity building in Sport for All, known as SUCCEED (Supporting Communities Empowerment & Development through Sport for All). The SUCCEED series highlights inspiring stories of individuals and communities positively impacted by training and capacity building provided within the SUCCEED framework. Through these stories, we aim to showcase the transformative power of capacity building in sports, emphasizing how it fosters inclusivity, empowers marginalized groups, and strengthens community resilience.}

The exciting story of a young female leader from Trinidad and Tobago who became a Sport for All Movement advocate and is helping her community battle sedentarism.

Meet Safiya Sylvester, a 27-year-old sport scientist and community leader from Trinidad and Tobago. With a diverse background in sports studies and exercise science, she has committed herself not only to growing her career but also to driving positive impact within her community through Sport for All.

With an energetic personality, she loves to talk about the passion she nurtures for her culture, sports and community activities. This passion has led her to develop “TriniPlays”, a physical literacy project that promotes traditional sports and games while celebrating cultural heritage through play. Her inspiring journey through capacity building in Sport for All is an example of how SUCCEED can generate meaningful community impact through education and empowerment.

A Journey to Sport for All

Growing up in a community where competitive sports are predominant, Safiya was determined to find her place within this sphere. Sports always played an important role in her life and after practicing sports such as track and field, volleyball, and rugby, she found her place serving as a Young Olympic Ambassador for the International Olympic Academy at the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTO). Despite facing numerous challenges to practice sport and stay active, she strove to successfully pave her career in managing high-performing teams and complex operations both within competitive and non-competitive sports.

In 2023, Safiya was introduced to Sport for All capacity building programs, which led her to not only embrace the movement but even become one of its advocates and leaders, promoting Sport for All in her community. Her passion for sports and for helping others battle sedentarism and stay physically active was supported by her nomination to take part in the programs such as the UNESCO-supported Women Leadership through Sport for All : Training the next generation of Women Sport for All leaders, Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway and the Certified Leadership Course (CLC).

"The opportunity to participate in the capacity building programs enabled me to learn more about the Sport for All movement and understand how much I could do to help my community. It gave me the tools and confidence to lead my community.”

Mentors and facilitators played a crucial role in guiding her growth, helping her realize the potential she had to help her community through sport. These programs helped spark her motivation and soon afterwards, Safiya was designing her very first Sport for All project, named "TriniPlays: The Revival of Heritage", with full support from the TTO, in collaboration with the IOC, TAFISA, the Ministry of Education, and Alderman Kobe Sandy of the Point Fortin Borough Council.

About TriniPlays: Blending Sport and Culture

"TriniPlays" was designed to promote physical literacy through the ABCs - Agility, Balance, and Coordination-, educate on the three core values of Olympism: Excellence, Respect, and Friendship; and celebrate cultural heritage through play. This aligns with TAFISA Mission 2030, "For a Better World through Sport for All", which includes a theme on Cultural Heritage and Diversity.

The project started its implementation phase in May 2024 and introduced over 300 children from 11 schools across St. George East, Northeastern and St. Patrick to the fundamental elements of physical literacy through traditional sports and games like hopscotch, morals, rounders, and hand games. The initiative not only promotes physical activity but also highlights safeguarding while honoring the region's rich cultural heritage.

"TriniPlays is about more than just playing games. It’s about creating an emotional connection with sport and culture, so children grow up motivated to stay active.”

A Community with Vibrant Culture facing the Consequences of Sedentarism

Safiya describes her community as a vibrant tapestry of cultures and religions, where celebrations like Carnival and Muslim festivities are embraced with joy and respect. This diversity is expressed in her love for her hometown; she describes with emotion how much she loves the beauty of the Trinidad and Tobago beaches and the delicious food in her culture. Despite having access to beautiful landscapes, she raises high concern for the levels of sedentarism among people in her community. She points out the significant health risks posed by inactivity, including increasing obesity rates among both adults and children.

“The lack of motivation to play sports is the core reason for inactivity in adulthood, with rising obesity rates not only among young and senior adults but also affecting children and teenagers.”

Through TriniPlays, Safiya is addressing this issue by fostering a lifelong love for physical activity among the younger generation, helping them stay active while maintaining a strong connection to their cultural roots. Safiya’s leadership in tackling sedentarism is creating a lasting impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s youth. 

Gender Equity and Women Empowerment through Capacity Building

Building women’s leadership capacity is one of the driving forces for change tackling global challenges. Gender equity is at the core of SUCCEED framework, aligning with TAFISA Mission 2030 and IOC Olympism 365’s broader mission to promote inclusion and equitable participation in sport and physical activity. The Women Leadership through Sport for All as well as the Certified Leadership Course are among several initiatives aimed at empowering women and developing their leadership capacity within the Sport for All movement.

"Thanks to the capacity-building workshops and the guidance of inspiring mentors, I’ve grown as a leader and feel more confident in helping others in my community be more active. I hope to also empower a new generation of female leaders to value physical activity and cultural heritage, just as I’ve learned from those who have guided me."

About SUCCEED

The SUCCEED (Supporting Communities Empowerment & Development through Sport for All) is a global framework dedicated to fostering community empowerment and development through capacity building in Sport for All. Led by TAFISA in collaboration with the IOC through its Olympism 365 strategy, SUCCEED aims to provide a unified and synergistic approach towards building the capacity of Sport for All stakeholders. 

At its core, SUCCEED is committed to capacity building approaches that promote solidarity, safeguarding, equality, inclusion, human rights, and sustainable progress in and through sport within communities globally. By integrating the TAFISA Certified Leadership Course (CLC) into the SUCCEED framework and through strategic collaboration with various sports and non-profit organisations that supports concerted efforts, SUCCEED aims to scale the reach and impact of Sport for All capacity building initiatives. This will contribute to a lasting positive impact in communities through sport, fostering social cohesion, health, and well-being across diverse cultural and socioeconomic landscapes.