"Through the Excuse of Football, We Strengthen Medical Services": How Football-Oriented Sport for Development Organizations Prevent Youth Violence by Promoting Healthy Development in Colombia.

This article examines the role of football-oriented Sport for Development (SfD) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Colombia in preventing adolescent violence amid persistent community violence and drug trafficking. Through in-depth interviews with leaders of 10 NGOs within the Gol y Paz network, the study highlights how these organizations create safe spaces, foster socio-emotional learning, and implement multilevel interventions that connect youth to institutional services, thereby serving as protective buffers against violence. The NGOs leverage football’s popularity to gain community acceptance, even in areas controlled by illegal armed groups, and emphasize collaboration among themselves and with governmental and private sectors despite challenges related to competition, resource disparities, and rural-urban divides. The findings position football-oriented SfD NGOs as vital contributors to violence prevention and positive youth development in Colombia, aligning with the country’s commitment to the End Violence Against Children partnership.