The Network of Sport and Body Movement for Vulnerable Groups (BoMoVu) is a collective of practitioners of sports, dance, and performing arts who want to dedicate their professional talents for body movement to the field of social work. Springing from the idea that someone who has acquired well-being and mental strengthening from their own physical experience is best able to share and transmit this well-being, we set up this network to build the bridges between sport/body movement practitioners and vulnerable groups in Turkey. As BoMoVu, we believe that access to physical activities is a right and should not be considered as a luxury reserved for the affluent or physically abled.
We design short and long-term physical training programs to help people integrate into normal life. BoMoVu members develop their own workshops for the target group they feel qualified to train. BoMoVu then helps members to reach out to the target group. BoMoVu also acts as a skill-developing center as it conducts seminars designed to help sports practitioners adapt their knowledge to the needs of vulnerable groups and accompany them in the development of holistic social programs.
AREA / SUBJECT OF THE FELLOWSHIP
- Assisting activities:
Your Movement is Free: Hareketin Özgür (Your Movement is Free) is a tool developed by BoMoVu association to reach out to community centers welcoming refugees and other displaced people in Istanbul. With a network of sports and performing arts practitioners, displaced children and adults benefiting from services of community centers in Istanbul are offered a physical activities program to accompany their psycho-social support. Besides, other community centers working with displaced people are equipped with a guide tool to implement creative and physical activities in an inclusive way.
Active School: Hareket Okulda (The Active School) project, which is conducted in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, is carrying out by the Education Reform Initiative (ERG) with the support of Nike. Within the scope of this project, BoMoVu is organizing basketball and dance clubs which we believe will add diversity to physical education classes and school clubs.
2. Office activities:
Our space is active with office work of the projects above and also weekly physical activities, resource center and discussions within our “Critical Body” Program. With this program, we aim to address problems of access and practice into the dominated sports and bring a critical and inclusive perspective. In 2020 we will continue to implement Capoeira, Contact Improvisation, Muay Thai, and Yoga on a weekly basis, free and open to all, in a non-discriminatory and safe environment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FELLOWSHİP ACTIVITY
The fellow is expected to carry out his/her research in the above-mentioned fields and present it to the members of the center and a larger audience by the end of their stay.
EXPECTED PROFILE
The fellow is expected to engage in activities that are lead both on the field with children and at the center with adults. The physical active participation of the fellow at the activities for children is requested when the trainer needs it. The fellow should feel comfortable in sports or casual outfit.
The fellow will also be required to take part in activities of the office work, helping to develop projects or organize the activities as well as feel a full part of the team with voluntary involvement.
According to the skills of the fellow, activities can be organized for the fellow to feel that they develop themselves and contribute with personal insights.
CONDITIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
BoMoVu is open every day according to activities taking place. Office hours is 5 days per week from 10 am to 6 pm. The fellowship will take place in this time period with flexibility regarding which activities they want to be responsible for assisting.
PROPOSED TIME FOR THE FELLOWSHIP
The fellowship activity shall take place between September 2020 - February 2021.