Kostanay Police Academy Pulls Out the Big Guns - Sport for Development Against Violent Extremism in Kazakhstan

As part of the GIZ PREVECA project, trainer Samia Khatib conducted a four-day Sport for Development (S4D) training at the Kostanay Police Academy in Kazakhstan from March 17 to 20. At first, the atmosphere was skeptical. Many participants—correctional officers, psychologists, theologians, civil society actors, and academy staff—questioned why they needed S4D at all. “We already organize sports tournaments,” some said, while others pointed to already demanding workloads and strictly structured environments.

The training took place in a context where extremism and radicalization are an increasing concern, both inside and outside the prison system. In order to help people reintegrate into society, efforts to address these problems have traditionally concentrated on providing psychological or spiritual support. Despite their importance, these methods frequently overlook the social and physical aspects of rehabilitation, where S4D can have a significant impact.

As the training progressed, participants came to understand that S4D isn't about doing more sport—it's about doing sport differently. The methodology was adapted to suit the penitentiary context and adult populations, with a specific focus on disengagement from violence rather than the more difficult process of deradicalization.

Throughout the four days, participants began transforming already-known and familiar sports activities into intentional tools for change—modifying rules, embedding life skills, and writing targeted reflection questions. Together, they collaborated to create a framework for life skills that is suited to the requirements of prisoners and explored how those skills could be cultivated through sport. They also dug into monitoring and evaluation, co-developed some practical M&E tools, and started conversations about how data and feedback flow within and between their systems and how impact could be measured over time.

The function of the facilitator—the individual who can connect sport, trust, and behavior change within these confined environments—was a major theme. Any intervention's success depends on their presence, principles, and consistency.

By the final day, there was a noticeable change of view: The participants started to look at S4D as a useful, human-centered and fun disengagement tool. With the support of GIZ and the trainer, they have already set an action plan: to implement S4D sessions in prisons/probation centers, work on their M&E tools and data flow system, and begin training their colleagues on this approach.

What started with hesitation ended with motivation—and a willingness to explore new ways of working on the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates and those on probation involved in violent extremism.

Find more pictures from the training here: Instagram