KUALA LUMPUR: The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) has launched a programme aimed at cultivating positive social skills in youths through sports and keep them away from violent and extreme actions.
Working with the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur, SEARCCT's Sports in Enhancing and Promoting Authentic Diversity for Unity (Sepadu) basketball and sports diplomacy programme for youths is a proactive effort to demonstrate the significance of sports like basketball to young people.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the Sepadu programme would help inculcate skills such as teamwork, trust and mutual respect.
"By engaging in sports, young people would also be able to develop a sense of purpose and a healthy outlet for their energy and passions.
"This will keep them focused on positive pursuits rather than resorting to violence, aggression or other harms to accomplish their goals," he said at the launch of the programme at the Malaysian Basketball Association (Maba) stadium.
Also present at the launch of the Sepadu programme were US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters and SEARCCT director-general Datuk Ganeson Sivagurunathan.
Mohamad said the programme will include the US sports envoys such as Scooter Christensen and Cherelle George of the renowned Harlem Globetrotters, as well as Chinny Nwagbo of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
They will impart the values of sacrifice, fair play and teamwork to the participants.
"I hope these desirable qualities will rub off on our young participants, who could be inspired to influence their own peers to make positive life choices."
Meanwhile, McFeeters said the programme is proof that sports is an essential tool for promoting peace and unity.
"The US Sports Envoy programme is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.
"The programme is a unique component of the US Department of State's people-to-people diplomacy. The lessons they share from the court which are communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion and conflict resolution are critical to leadership development, community building, equality and peace."
The sports envoys will lead demonstrations, basketball clinics and speaking engagements in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.
They will conduct practices and exhibition matches, as well as engage in dialogue with schools, youth associations and media to demonstrate how sports can be utilised as a positive outlet for potential at-risk youth to find alternatives to negative behaviour.