Sports have a fundamental human appeal.
Sports can connect people across cultures, religions, nationalities, languages, and other divides. When individuals participate in sports, they learn to respect their opponents, value teamwork and tolerance, and appreciate the importance of fair play and regulations. Recognizing the power of sports as a tool for peacebuilding and reconciliation, WPDI designs and implements programs that allow young women and men to practice values of mutual respect, inclusion, and fair play while enjoying themselves.
The idea for the Peace Through Sports program came to Forest Whitaker when he visited a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan in 2014. The children and youths he saw were left to themselves and their traumas, with few outlets other than their dreams of exacting vengeance from whoever had brought this calamity. Seeking to offer them psychosocial support while educating them on peace, Forest recognized that sports were, with its values of cooperation, tolerance, and respect for rules, a perfect vehicle to cultivate values of peace in a way that would entertain and motivate children and youths.
Empowering Women and Girls: The Transformative Role of Sports in Advancing Gender Equality
Meet Esther Kide, a South Sudanese graduate of our Peace Through Sports Program at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Esther now plays as a striker on South Sudan’s Female Soccer Team. She embodies the spirit of the Peace Through Sports program, encouraging girls to embrace sports despite societal challenges and misconceptions. Esther shared during WPDI’s International Women’s Day Celebrations,
“I would like to encourage you girls that through sports, you can learn and get a lot of experiences from different places. Our body is healthy and flexible. There are challenges that we face because most of our parents believe that football is for men, not for women. That’s why most of the talented girls have been forced into marriage, others have dropped out of school because of school fees, and many people think that girls who play football won’t be able to reproduce. Our request as female footballers is that we need support and exposure to the worldview and other football teams outside there because when they see me and others traveling, our parents begin to understand that what we are doing has associated benefits. It will also encourage the rest of the girls to work hard and inspire them to promote peace through sports and make ends meet. Stand strong always!”
Esther’s powerful words highlight the transformative impact of sports on women and girls, who often face obstacles in realizing their potential.
The Peace Through Sports program has engaged over 56,000 participants in sporting activities and managed 182 competitive teams, teaching the values of sportsmanship to vulnerable populations. By creating opportunities for young people to participate in sports, WPDI helps them build connections, foster mutual respect, and develop essential life skills. This widespread participation is a testament to the program’s success in fostering a vibrant and inclusive community where the principles of peace and mutual respect are widely shared and celebrated.
