Middle East Leaders Return To Jordan For Global Sports Peace Initiative

A former Iraqi national basketball player has returned to Iraq to help rebuild his community after attending the annual Generations for Peace initiative in Amman, Jordan. Founded by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Generations For Peace uses sport as a vehicle for peace building in divided communities.

MON 7th DEC - WED16TH DEC 2009 - The fifth international Generations for Peace camp begins today in Amman, Jordan.



Founded by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan in 2007, Generations For Peace uses sport as a vehicle for peace building in divided communities.

80 delegates from 13 countries troubled by conflict will be in Amman to learn how sport can bring young people together. Countries include; Afghanistan, Burundi, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.



Indonesia, Kenya and Timor-Leste are sending delegates for the first time.



The camp includes sport training and teaching skills in three sports: softball, football and basketball – as well as training in such areas as peace building and conflict resolution. There will also be previous delegates, from Nigeria for example, who will present projects implemented in their country, to show how they work towards peace in their communities.



Generations For Peace has already held four hugely successful camps, in Amman and Abu Dhabi. As a result, a growing number of initiatives have been implemented in the delegates’ own communities and home countries on their return.



Generations For Peace – Key facts:

13 countries have sent delegates to this Generations for Peace camp;
163 projects have been launched so far by delegates who participated in Generations for Peace;
373 youth leaders from 30 African and Asian countries have trained at the camp, since it began;
2,900 young people have had training from Generations for Peace Pioneers in their own countries;
40,000 children around the world are beneficiating from Generations for Peace through Peace Pioneers’ work back home.
Before attending Generations for Peace, Raouf was happy for Ali Hassan al-Majeed or Chemical Ali –- to hang in Halabja. The peace camp has had a healing affect on his own heart and the message he now has for Ali Hassan is one of justice by God.

Generations for Peace has been the motivating force for Raouf who will set up a basketball school in his home city of Sulamaniyahn and in Halabja. He hopes that his Basketball schools will see people running for sport instead of running from chemical weapons - in a region scarred by war.

Now, 13 countries troubled by conflict each have a number of delegates implementing sports programs for young people in their own communities. The countries include: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Burundi, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Palestine, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya

The two-week camps, attracting national and Olympic athletes, include sport training and teaching skills in softball, football and basketball as well as training in such areas as peace building and conflict resolution.

Generations For Peace has already held five hugely successful camps in Amman, Abu Dhabi and Jordan.

For more information, please contact Alicia.manju@tvcgroup.com +44 (0) 207 535 5800