Helping Refugee Youth Heal Through Sport
Stay Connected to Youth in Uganda
The district of Adjumani, in northwestern Uganda, is home to more than 265,000 refugees—almost half of the district’s population. Most people have fled violence and instability in South Sudan, arriving at their settlements with little more than hope and a few belongings. Many children arrive alone, or as the head of households, and struggle with anxiety and depression. Social services struggle to meet the massive need.
To address the urgent mental health crisis among displaced youth, the Olympic Refuge Foundation launched Game Connect, a sport-for-mental health program, in 2020. The program is carried out by several organizations led by the AVSI Foundation, in partnership with Right To Play, Youth Sport Uganda, the Uganda Olympic Committee, and UNHCR. The aim of the program is to improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of displaced young people aged 15 to 24 and their host communities through structured sport-based activities.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders shows an 89% reduction in the number of youth reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression following participation in the program.
The Power of Sports
Right To Play has been working in Uganda—and in Adjumani—for many years to protect, educate, and empower children to rise above adversity through sport and play. Life in Adjumani’s refugee settlements is challenging for children and youth. Livelihood opportunities are scarce, and access to basic services, including education, healthcare, and psychosocial support, is significantly strained. The limited resources and infrastructure have intensified competition for essentials such as drinkable water, food rations, and firewood, sometimes leading to tensions between refugee and host communities. Many children and youth grow up without the support they need to learn and develop. Many also experience stress, anxiety, and depression.
The Game Connect program has been running since 2020. The first three-year phase, which ran from 2020 to 2023, engaged approximately 11,000 youth across Kampala, Adjumani, Kikuube, Lamwo, and Kamwenge through structured sports for mental health sessions, mental health support through referrals, and life skills training. The second, current phase, will run to 2026 and builds on the learnings from the first phase. The program is demonstrating how structured sports activities can help youth reduce depression and anxiety, can help to build social cohesion, and give young people the skills and strategies to address their psychosocial wellbeing and mental health needs.
In addition to regular sporting mentorship and training, youth participate in weekly Sport for mental health sessions that focus on emotional resilience, stress relief, problem-solving, and confidence building. Coaches also conduct household visits to meet with youth, parents, and caregivers, reducing barriers to access and addressing mental health and child protection issues. The core play activities used in the program were co-developed amongst partners, with Right To Play contributing to the curriculum development, drawing on our more than 25 years of experience empowering displaced youth through sport and play. As part of the program, we provide training to Coaches that equips them with life skills to engage youth with safeguarding in mind. The program’s Support for Mental Health curriculum empowers leaders to identify mental health risks and leverage sports for emotional regulation and social cohesion.
“When youth are involved in sports, they learn to work together and improve their livelihood.” – Hope Masika, Program Manager, Right To Play Uganda
Randomized Controlled Trial Shows Game Connect's Structured Sport Approach Reduces Anxiety and Depression
To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a sport-for-protection program designed to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms among displaced youth.
The results show a significant improvement in the psychosocial well-being and mental health of young refugees. Following the program, the treatment group displayed a 79% improvement in psychological well-being outcomes, experienced an increase in self-efficacy, and doubled their sense of belonging. More youth also said they could identify a stable support figure outside their home.
[Results from a randomized controlled trial led by Kathleen Latimer and Rita Larok, and an external evaluation by Ronald Luwangula, Ph.D.]
The proportion of Game Connect participants experiencing symptoms of anxiety fell from 55% to 6% at the end of the program.
To measure its effectiveness, researchers compared program participants to a control group who did not receive the intervention. The findings revealed improvement in several areas that contribute directly to mental health and psychosocial well-being. Self-efficacy scores rose by 67%, indicating a significant increase in the youth’s confidence to complete tasks and achieve success. Additionally, the participants’ sense of belonging doubled, and their ability to identify a reliable support figure outside the home improved by 14%. These outcomes verify the success of Game Connect’s holistic approach to youth empowerment and community development.
“I used to accommodate rage and kept quiet while angry. Now I speak out how I feel, and communication at home has improved.” – William, Game Connect participant
Empowering Youth Enhances our Future
The current phase of the program aims to expand the program’s reach and has a stronger emphasis on mental health inclusivity for girls and youth with disabilities. Community engagement has also intensified, with parents, teachers, and local leaders playing a vital role in contributing to the program’s development. Sports tournaments unite host and refugee communities, fostering interaction and reducing stigma to create a harmonious environment.
Former participants are also stepping into leadership roles as peer mentors, helping to deliver sessions to new participants. The program is also collaborating with new partners, including civil society organizations and schools, to strengthen advocacy and establish sports as a key component of mental health support in educational settings. A developing cooperation with the Uganda Olympic Committee aims to connect program participants with sports federations and professional coaching to enhance the quality and delivery of each sporting program. The second phase of the program also introduced financial literacy and employability skills components.
“Sport has also helped me to stay focused and healthy. I no longer fall sick often, and the thought of alcohol and drug use seldom visits me lately.” – Abdalla, Game Connect participant
Globally, more than 47 million children are forced to live in displacement. The psychological toll of conflict and instability has lifelong effects, and programs like Game Connect offer a crucial lifeline. This intervention demonstrates that inclusive sport-for-protection programs that accommodate youth with diverse abilities can contribute to an improved mental health burden for displaced youth and youth from host communities.
Game Connect was implemented by several non-governmental organizations led by the AVSI Foundation in consortium with Right To Play, Youth Sport Uganda, the Uganda Olympic Committee, and UNHCR, funded by the Olympic Refugee Foundation.
