Denise Alleyne: Support where it matters
Denise Alleyne is a basketball coach on a mission to improve opportunities for female coaches in her home country, Barbados. The Olympic Solidarity-supported International Support Programme for African and Caribbean Sport (PAISAC) has helped her expand her reach and create professional workshops for women looking to follow in her footsteps.
I want female coaches to know that being a woman in sport isn’t a hindrance, it’s an advantage. The Olympic Movement is now really pushing to increase female involvement in sport, both in coaching and in a general sense. It’s the first time in my career that I can really feel the momentum shifting.
Olympic Solidarity is one major way that the Olympic Movement is supporting gender equality. For me, I’m not able to take on all the aspects of putting together a workshop for multiple coaches on my own. Olympic Solidarity covers the cost of essential stuff like equipment, resources, personnel and accommodation for participants who are coming from overseas.
When it comes to funding for coaches, Olympic Solidarity is always willing to put the money where it matters. This support means that we can strive for excellence, improve and become part of something bigger than ourselves. It gives us the opportunity to share, develop and grow.
We don’t have a lot of female coaches – in Barbados, I’m one of the very few in my sport – and because of this, female coaches have historically started at a disadvantage. Slowly but surely, though, we’re starting to see a shift, and I’m excited to be a part of this systemic change.