Refugee youth take part in various fun games organized by UNHCR as part of the Sport for Protection (S4P) initiative, funded in partnership with Educate A Child Programme, in Mile Refugee Camp, Guereda, Chad. © UNHCR/Jesuit Refugee Service/Irene Galera
Written by/ Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR’s Senior Advisor and Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Anyone who watches football knows the thrill of the game, with its tactical orchestration of teamwork, individual brilliance, control, concentration, endurance, and of course the sheer joy of a goal. Football is universal – it’s everywhere, from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to almost every corner of the globe.
That is the power of sport.
It has the ability to unite, uplift and create positive change, at global tournaments, in towns and cities, and in communities hosting people who have found safety from war, conflict and persecution.
As the Representative of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, I have witnessed first-hand the power of sport to positively change the lives of refugees, notably girls.
When families are forced to flee – especially children and young people – they lose so much. Some lose their loved-ones, some are affected by conflict-related trauma and others endure exploitation and abuse.
Sport helps to restore a sense of normalcy and provide opportunities for young people who have been through so much upheaval, and to empower them. And it gives youngsters the chance to simply have fun and be children.
That’s why I’m so proud of UNHCR’s joint initiative with the Education Above All Foundation, with the generous support of the Qatar Fund for Development, and in partnership with Generation Amazing, a programme led by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. Together, we are working to empower refugee children and youth in Chad, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, through what we call Sport for Protection.
The projects are already changing some lives. One example: in Mile and Kounougou camps, Eastern Chad, 24 refugees – including 16 young refugee women – trained to become sports facilitators. With their new skills and confidence, they are now working with nearly 5,000 primary school-aged children, leading fun activities to promote increased access and retention in primary education and encourage greater gender equality through sport.
Girls of primary school age participate in organized sporting activities as part of the Sport for Protection (S4P) initiative, funded in partnership with Educate A Child Programme, in Mile Refugee Camp, Guereda, Chad. © UNHCR/Jesuit Refugee Service/Irene Galera
Najwa Issak, who participated in the training programme, told us that she grew up thinking sport was not meant for girls. “Before, girls didn’t play sport at the camp because our parents thought that sport is only for boys,” she says. Taking part in the programme changed her outlook —and the minds of others. “In the end, we convinced our parents of the importance of sport for girls.” Another participant told us that bringing sport to the camp provided an opportunity for both boys and girls to play, promoting greater gender equality.
In addition to promoting social inclusion, our Sport for Protection activities are designed to draw together diverse members of the community. By working towards a common goal, young people forget their differences and forge social skills that apply to other parts of their lives. As one participating sports manager told us, “Building youth protection through sport goes beyond skills learned on the football pitch and involves developing trusting relations with parents, engaging local community leaders and helping strengthen local public policy.” Football also helps to build ties between refugees and the communities that welcome them.
Primary school children participate in sporting activities as part of the Sport for Protection (S4P) initiative, funded in partnership with Educate A Child Programme, in Mile Refugee Camp, Guereda, Chad. © UNHCR/Jesuit Refugee Service/Irene Galera
UNHCR works to provide transformative sporting opportunities like this to communities affected by displacement all over the world, using the power of sport to unite and create lasting change.
If like me, you are planning to enjoy this year’s festival of football that is the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, my hope is that when you are experiencing the joy that the beautiful game brings, you will think about the children and families whose lives have been turned upside down by displacement.
For more on UNHCR’s sports programmes
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