Amman, Jordan, 6 June 2010: For 10 years, Jordanian football star Samer Utoum was one of the finest players competing in a tough American football league.
He was lauded by the US media as one of the most skillful footballers in the Hispanic League and enjoyed the adoration from an army of supporters who watched his side win numerous trophies.
But the 34 year-old’s outlook has now changed after joining 76 other leaders of youth who have descended on Amman, Jordan, this week to take part in the Generations For Peace international camp, which continues until June10th.
Generations For Peace was launched by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, International Olympic Committee Member and Jordan Olympic Committee President, as an organisation to use sport as a peace building tool within conflicting and troubled communities across the world. To date more than 45,000 children from 39 countries and territories have been touched by its work.
“I used to go out onto the football pitch thinking that winning was the most important thing,” he said. “Winning made us all feel good – the fans, the players and the manager – so losing never an option. But these past few days have really opened my eyes to the power that football, and the other sports, has in making a difference to those people that are a lot less fortunate than me.”
Football, along with volleyball, softball and basketball, are used in an innovative curriculum combining the values of sport with the importance of conflict resolution – and it teaches practical coaching along with serious classroom lectures.
The outcome is staggering. At the end of the 10-day camp, delegates return home to cascade their learning within their own communities to other leaders of youth in order to ‘pass it on’ – the organisation’s tag line - to the young.
“This is the first time in my life that I have stepped out on to a sports field when it is not just about winning,” he said. “Sport teaches tolerance and respect which are key facets for any conflict situation. Now, I know that by sharing my skills and passion for sport, I can be a role model for young people who have not been as fortunate as I have. Generations For Peace provides the opportunity to bring people together from all sides of the troubled communities in an environment that will encourage understanding for a lasting peace.”
This is the sixth camp for Generations For Peace which enjoys incredible support, none more so than from its Founding Partner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a renowned humanitarian from the Abu Dhabi Ruling Family. The Camp will mark the continuation of Samsung as the Official Regional Partner with the camp’s official suppliers being Sama Mineral Water, Sama Juice and Mudieb Haddad & Sons Co.