Sport-based interventions for addressing educational inequalities and social exclusion

Given the widening economic inequalities and the austerity-driven contraction of public sectors worldwide, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations face increased vulnerabilities, particularly in terms of prolonged social exclusion and inadequate access to quality education and critical social services. Traditional educational structures, impacted by reduced funding and political apathy, struggle to effectively address these compounded adversities faced by marginalized communities. Recently, sport-based third-sector organizations have grown prominently, offering alternative educational pathways and providing avenues for better health and well-being, personal empowerment, community participation, and measurable progress in social mobility. Recent studies have underscored some benefits of these interventions, including improved resilience, enhanced mental health, self-efficacy, and interpersonal skills among participants. However, the contemporary conditions worsened by the post-pandemic socioeconomic crisis, geopolitical tensions, and economic decline demand deeper scholarly exploration to ascertain the long-term effectiveness, viability, and comprehensive impacts of sport-based educational initiatives.This Research Topic seeks to generate empirical insights into the effectiveness and sustainability of sport-for-development educational interventions in mitigating socioeconomic inequities, fostering community and personal empowerment, and supporting social integration. The focus is on critically exploring how sport-based education initiatives impact learning outcomes, mental health and well-being, employability, and ultimately, opportunities for upward social mobility for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in general. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the implications of austerity policies and reduced governmental funding on the operation, scalability, and sustainability of these innovative educational models. Consideration of intersectional factors, including gender disparities, race/ethnicity, and immigrant status, is encouraged as part of this comprehensive assessment.To gather further insights into using sport-based education to resolve pressing societal inequities and facilitate the integration of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Implementation and outcomes of sport-for-development programs targeting disadvantaged or excluded groups (e.g., women and girls, LGBTQI+, refugees/immigrants, economically disadvantaged or homeless groups).• Leadership, training, and role of coaching staff and program personnel in effective sport-based educational interventions.• Trauma-informed and psychologically supportive practices in sport-for-development educational contexts.• Empirical analysis of mental health, psychological resilience, and social integration benefits of participation in structured sport-based educational programs.• Sustainability models, funding challenges, and strategic partnerships maintaining the long-term viability of sport-for-development educational programs.• Policy frameworks, governmental involvement, and advocacy efforts surrounding sport-for-development initiatives.• Comparative international analyses and cross-cultural case studies on the integration and scalability of sport-based education initiatives.• Methods, models, and effective practices to facilitate social mobility within sport-for-development frameworks.• Responses and adaptations within sport-for-development programs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated socioeconomic crises.• Community-responsive pedagogies and locally grounded educational models• Culturally situated and context-driven approaches to sport-for-development. Topic editors: Pedro Danilo Ponciano Nuñez, Jordan Donnelly Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76234/sport-based-interventions-for-addressing-educational-inequalities-and-social-exclusion