" We learn in many ways- a truism, of course, and yet many of us, alas,forget the ironic confines of our educational background: the way we were persuaded that the acquisition of knowledge began and ended in a classroom, or on occasion, the reading room of a library.All the time, however, we are potential teachers of one another, and for children especially, an athletic game can be an occasion for many lessons indeed- emotional and moral, and too, cognitive or factual."
Robert Coles, From Jeffrey Beedy's Sports PLUS
Dear Friends,
I am honored to be associated with the Doves Olympic Movement (DOM). Over the past thirty years I have coached, researched, taught thousands of children and teachers in the field of education and sports and I place Alexis's project at the top of the work I have been associated with. I strongly believe the Doves Olympic Movement has the potential to educate and empower the desperate Cyprus communities to harness the power of sport to promote understanding and respect.
The Doves Project has potential because learning occurs within relationships and within communities. Research shows that how a child feels within his or her community, trumps all other factors in promoting important characteristics such as resiliency, confidence and hope. Sports provide a natural arena to build relationships and community.
A strong sense of community begins with our community leaders. If it takes a village to raise a child then we need to teach the villagers how to raise our children. Imagine what the larger Cyprus village could do if it harnessed the educational potential of one of our children's most passionate rites of passage, sports to bridge their differences.
Developing values such as respect and understanding, however, requires a proactive approach. Since most sport leaders are not trained in these areas of human development education is the key. The Doves Project provides a model of hope. The Doves Project aims to teach the leaders how to structure the sport environment to engender a sense of community where children feel safe and are motivated to learn. Within such a community children are intrinsically motivated to develop healthy habits of living and learning.
Mother Teresa stated often "you do not need to come to Calcutta to make a difference, find your own Calcutta ''. The Doves Project provides an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of all the Cyprus children.
I am honored to be a part of this groundbreaking and meaningful project and ask you to join me in making a difference in the lives of children and the communities where they live, learn and play.
Jeffrey Pratt Beedy, Ed.D
Founder Sports PLUS Institute