The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee/Commonwealth Games Association has officially launched the Association For International Sport for ALL (TAFISA) Certified Leadership Course (CLC). The opening ceremony for the event took place at Frenches House on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The innovative programme is designed to equip participants with critical leadership and community-development skills, demonstrating how sports can serve as a powerful tool for social change and community empowerment.
Speaking at the launch, local coordinator Tyrone James emphasized the SVG Olympic Committee’s commitment to expanding the perspective of sports beyond mere competition. He noted that through its educational arm, the National Olympic Academy, the committee is dedicated to promoting sport as a vehicle for education, leadership development, and community engagement.
TAFISA Regional Coordinator and Sports Facilitator Etana Wiggins highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative. “Over the next few days, we will examine how sport can be used to create stronger communities,” Wiggins stated. “This is not a narrow approach to creating social change in your country. It is collaborative, and only through collaboration can we achieve stronger development and progress for our people”.
The practical value of the training was further underscored by Degra Michael of the Community Empowerment Division within the Ministry of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment and National Heritage. Michael explained that the program goes beyond standard lectures, noting it is fundamentally about “equipping participants with the skills to lead, organize, and use sport as a driving force for positive change in our communities”.
The Certified Leadership Course will be delivered in two distinct phases: phase one runs from June 3 to June 6, 2026, and phase two is scheduled for August 18 to August 21, 2026. As a capstone component of the training, participants in levels one and two will be required to design and implement practical projects within their own communities. These initiatives will allow participants to apply their newly acquired skills to create measurable, local impact.
Ultimately, organizers expect the course to develop a robust network of community leaders capable of utilizing sport as a platform for inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable social development throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.