Amman, Jordan: United Nations Special Adviser on Sports for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, has praised Generations For Peace for its positive impact on young people across countries in conflict.
Amman, Jordan: United Nations Special Adviser on Sports for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, has praised Generations For Peace for its positive impact on young people across countries in conflict.
His praise came during an event hosted by the Young Arab Leaders (YAL) Jordan chapter as well as the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) and Generations For Peace promoting the importance of sport in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals and resolving conflict. It was held under the patronage of HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Founder and Chairman of the global initiative Generations For Peace and President of the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC).
Mr Lemke, who was appointed as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Sport for Development and Peace in March 2008, said: “In my travels, I have witnessed first hand the way conflict has increased tensions and pitted neighbours against one another. Sport can play an important role in reducing social tensions and conflicts.
“I thank His Royal Highness Prince Feisal for his support and continued dedication to these United Nations causes, because without him and passionate individuals like him, my job would be impossible.
“Jordan’s Generations For Peace initiative has played a crucial role in addressing the ways in which sport can provide stability and encourage social cohesion. Generations For Peace is about empowering leaders from countries in conflict and preparing our young people for a peaceful and productive future. The role of the Jordan Olympic Committee in promoting gender equity and empowerment of women has also been exemplary.”
HRH Prince Feisal urged business leaders to play their part in helping to promote development and peace through sport. He said: “Each of you has the potential to play a key role in harnessing the power of sport; to create peace and development within your own sphere of influence.
“As with so many things in life, there can be no doubt that those of us committed to harnessing the power of sport to create peace and positive social change will be more effective and achieve our goals more efficiently, if we work together to share our experiences, knowledge and information.”
In summing up the role of sport in social and economic development Ala Kahlifeh, Chairman of YAL, Jordan said: “The value of sports to sustainable human development touches and impacts on employability, health and education and we have witnessed its influence on encouraging social and gender inclusion, leading to reduction of crime and violence and building the right platforms for making peace.”
Founded in 2007, Generations For Peace is currently holding the fourth of its hugely successful international camps, which bring together leaders of youth from divided communities and trains them in how to use sport to unite communities and young people divided by conflict.
The fourth camp, taking place in Amman, has hosted 70 delegates from 15 countries including Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Yemen, as well as first time participants Zambia, The Gambia, Burundi, Senegal and Nepal.
Upon returning to their countries, Generations For Peace Delegates and Peace Pioneers are expected to train at least 20 trainers every year; work with at least 200 children annually; support other Peace Pioneers; and act as advocates for peace promoting Generations For Peace.