On May 14, 2009, at the Green Parrot Hotel in St. Lucia, twenty sports administrators gathered for the Sports Administrators Enrich Lives (SAEL) seminar sponsored by Peace Dream Inc, the St. Lucia Football Association, and the Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports. The seminar brought the creative application of the successful business method of continuous improvement to the field of sports administration.

This SAEL seminar is part of the newest addition to Peace Dream Inc’s educational programs, the Sports Enrich Lives program (SEL).  Sports Enrich Lives is a program designed to help improve the working climate of athletes, coaches, educators and administrators.  A central premise of these programs is highlighting the ways in which sports are capable of enriching the lives of those involved in them both on and off the field.

In working with the sports administrators in attendance at this St. Lucia launch, senior international trainer, Dr. Walter Cooper, noted that the quality of character, enthusiasm and overall desire to improve their national situation was excellent. 

The Sports Enriching Lives programs sponsored by the Peace Dream Inc are important for helping to build a more systematic and value-based approach to sports, and the St. Lucia launch is an important first step in this process. Sharing ideas and affirming common values provided an added benefit. A new sense of empowerment was felt among the participants as they realized that many of their colleagues could also make a difference in sports in their community and the nation.

“This group is in the top ten per cent of any workshop I have presented,” commented trainer, Dr. Ron Burr, after spending an exciting day with the administrators.

It was noted during the seminar that St. Lucia has a strong potential to improve both its sports programs and the general physical fitness of the country through sports and games.  One administrator commented that the seminar pulled together a diverse group representing different sports and ministries, and—through their sharing and cooperating—a new level of efficiency will be created in their sports programs.

Sports Enriches Lives encourages people to look at sports as an underdeveloped resource, one that has the capacity to serve a nation in its effort to promote positive social transformation.  Sports offer the young and those at-risk a chance to invest themselves, to build trust and teamwork, develop self-confidence and create a foundation for a healthier lifestyle. 

The Honorable Lenard Montoute, Minister of Social Transformation Youth and Sports commented about how the Sports Enriches Lives program can contribute to his work.  “Sports offer something more for athletes than just fulfilling the need to get out and exercise more. Diabetes is too prevalent in our society, and when sports is played by all, it can serve as a powerful preventive. Keeping people healthy as they grow through life is so important, especially when our resources have limits.” 

The goal of the SEL program is to support life-enrichment through sports and that is a process the takes continuous effort over a long period of time.  SEL is presented by a team of professional trainers who are dedicated to offer a variety of programs rooted in values, virtues and insights that inspire essential links towards promoting harmony, success and lasting happiness. Participants at the seminars learn to look anew at how to value, shape and develop sportsmanship and character through the hard-earned lessons gained on the courts and in practice. SEL will soon bring its programs to BelizeTrinidad and Tobago as part of its Caribbean and based outreach.