Generations for Peace Holds Camp in Jordan

Delegates learn softball at the Generations For Peace Camp in Amman, Jordan. (Generations for Peace/M. Chester)Generations for Peace Holds Camp in Jordan

(ATR) Youth leaders from 16 Asian and African countries are participating in the Generations for Peace Camp 08 in Amman, Jordan as part of the organization’s ongoing effort to bring world peace through sports.

A total of 70 delegates from Asian and African countries - including Iraq, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Liberia - are taking part in the camp, which is designed to introduce programs that use sports as a tool to build peace in divided communities.

The 10-day camp began Nov. 25 and will continue until Friday, when the delegates will officially become Peace Pioneers in a graduation ceremony.

Generations for Peace was founded by Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, president of the Jordan Olympic Committee, in 2007. That year, the camp had eight Peace Pioneers graduate.

The delegates receive training from international coaches in teaching children in sports such as basketball, soccer, softball, table tennis, track and field and volleyball as well as training from leading education experts in areas such as conflict resolution and peace building.

The Peace Pioneer Certification Program consists of four key modules which focus on the roles the Peace Pioneers will undertake in their communities: Peace Building, Working with Children, Training the Trainers and Advocacy for Generations for Peace.

“It has been a humbling experience to sit with the delegates and to hear first hand of the problems that they have experienced within their own communities,” Prince Feisal said. “I can only describe them as heroes because they have not given up and every one of them is determined that they can make a difference as individuals and working with like-minded peace pioneers. They can return home in the knowledge that they will all have the support of me and my team. No peace pioneer will ever be alone.” Volleyball was another sport taught to the delegates. (Generations for Peace/M. Chester)

The Laureus Foundation, one of the Generations for Peace partners, the National Federations of Jordan and the Jordan Paralympic Committee have provided coaches, facilities and equipment. Several international federations are supporting the camp by sending coaches, including the International Softball Federation (ISF), the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

A video of the camp is available at http://www.digitalnewsagency.com/story/view/1911-generations-for-peace-initiative-grows-on-world-st/all. The video is free of charge, free of copyright restrictions and can be embedded or downloaded onto any Web format.

Written by Greg Oshust.