POSTED: Wednesday March 4th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORKING WITH CHILDREN TOPS GENERATIONS FOR PEACE AGENDA

“Never has there been a greater need for initiatives like Generations For Peace to make an impact on the regions that need it most” -- Prince Feisal

Abu Dhabi, UAE: As the world watched in horror as events unfolded in Pakistan yesterday, delegates attending the Generations For Peace camp sent out a clear message that sport should actually be used as a vehicle for bringing people from all sides of the divide together.

The 60 leaders of youth from 10 countries, currently enjoying the 10-day camp in Abu Dhabi, held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, saw the dramatic television images of the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team but it has galvonised their resolve to make a real difference within their own communities.

“Many of the delegates hail from war torn communities which have endured many years of trouble and they are here in Abu Dhabi to learn new skills and knowledge that may not have been tried before,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, of Jordan, Generations For Peace Founder and Chairman. “Never has there been a greater need for initiatives like Generations For Peace to make an impact on the regions that need it most.”

Generations For Peace is a global initiative that brings together leaders of youth from divided communities and trains them how to use sport to unite the young. The latest sessions focused on how the delegates can work with children and they also learned new volleyball coaching skills which will allow them to create active sessions when they return home.

The Abu Dhabi camp will also use football, softball and basketball as sports for the delegates to learn under the guidance of professional coaches from across the world. Leading scholars in conflict resolution are also on hand to work with delegates to address problems within their communities.

Generations For Peace has held two previous camps Amman which have attracted 150 delegates who have in turn returned home to cascade the programme to hundreds of like minded youth leaders and thousands of children.

Abu Dhabi marks the first time that a camp has been held outside of Jordan and it has welcomed delegates from India, Nigeria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia as well as the host country, UAE.

The camps also teach participants how to train other trainers, who can then plan and implement sporting programmes with children through a series of workshops, interactive seminars, presentations, debates, role-play and sporting sessions. Peace Pioneers are expected to train at least 20 trainers every year; work with at least 100-200 children annually; be an advocate for peace and to promote Generations For Peace; and to support other Peace Pioneers.

Abu Dhabi Camp 09 has welcomed Samsung Electronics as a regional sponsor for the first time and has been supported by the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation and numerous International Federations including the International Softball Federation (ISF) and a professional coach from British football club Brighton & Hove Albion. In previous camps, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), as well as national Olympic and Paralymic committees have supported the programme.

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Keywords · Generations for Peace · HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan · HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan · conflict resolution · Abu Dhabi Camp · volleyball · Jordan · children

Name: Aline Bannayan
Organization: Generations for Peace
Email:
Phone: +962796393000
URL: http://www.generationsforpeace.com/

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