New sport initiative to promote peace & development in Darfur

DOHA: Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) with Qatar Charity (QC) and International Centre for Sports Security (ICSS) has launched an initiative to promote peace and development through sport for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Darfur, Sudan, under the title “Sport for Peace and Development”.

The new initiative comes within the framework of the Doha peace document for Darfur in western Sudan and within the “Save the Dream” initiative.

The agreement on launching the initiative was signed by the Director of Development Projects in QFFD, Misfer bin Hamad Al Shahwani; Executive Director of International Cooperation in Qatar Charity, Mohammed Al Ghamdi; and Executive Director of the Save the Dream Initiative, Massimiliano Montanari, for ICSS.

In line with the “Save the Dream” initiative on promoting sport and its educational values for young people and children affected by conflict and crisis situations, the “Sport for Peace and Development” initiative, supported by Qatar Development Fund and Qatar Charity, will be launched this month for displaced people in Darfur, Sudan. The first round of activities will take place in El Fasher in North Darfur.

The initiative will be implemented with the participation of Save the Dream’s key partners such as Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Football Association, Aspire Academy, Qatar Stars League and Al Jazeera Center for Human Rights.

The project will also consider the participation of international partners such as Mission 89 and the participation of influential sports personalities such as Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Kenya’s famous runner Tegla Loroupe.

On the occasion, Director General of QFFD, Khalifa Al Kuwari, said the initiative was part of Qatar’s ongoing efforts to resolve conflicts and bring peace to the world, especially as it comes within the framework of completing the role of Qatar in achieving peace in Darfur through sport.

Al Kuwari praised the partnership with QC and ICSS as it plays a key role in positive change.

Al Kuwari said the initiative is concerned with the idea of peaceful coexistence and achieving peace away from conflicts. It will also be beneficial for young people and a hope to relieve them in light of the difficulties they face on a daily basis.

For his part, Qatar Charity CEO, Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, reiterated QC’s continuous support for advocating the basic values of sport, pointing that QC’s role is integrated with the efforts of the ICSS, which plays an essential and increasing role in addressing important issues in sport, as well as the safety of large events and the security of sports venues.

ICSS Chairman and CEO, Mohammed bin Hanzab, expressed his appreciation to QFFD, QC and all the participating partners, stressing that sport for development is a collective action, and that this initiative is a central step towards empowering young people and enhancing the core values of sport to bring about positive change in the lives of IDPs within Darfur.