Soccer Camps for Peace

(Initially implemented during our pilot project in Kigali, Rwanda (2008), this activity was completely reinvented in Gulu (2009) where the recently trained local coaches took responsibility for the bulk of the camp and for the hour long peacebuilding talks each day before lunch).

OA’s Soccer Camp for Peace is a five-day camp that combines soccer drills and games with peacebuilding and community-building discussions and activities.  Attended by around 80 primary school students, this camp is supervised by two OA coaches and run by 12 local coaches.

A standard day consists of the following:

(a) Warm-up and skill-building soccer drills;

(b) a water and snack break, in which  the instructors discuss the previous drill with the participants;

(c) an equal-opportunity skill-building soccer game  with a small number of players (e.g., boys can only pass to girls and vice versa, or goals made by girls are worth two points instead of one, etc.), followed by a reflective discussion with the instructor;

(d) a one hour discussion on a selected peacebuilding topic, such as conflict management and resolution; post-conflict healing; gender-based and domestic violence; overcoming a violent situation; or, how to be an agent of change and rebuild the community;

(e) a nutritious lunch  for all the participants; and,

(f) larger recreational soccer games with teams made from a variety of ages and skill levels to complete the day.

On the final (fifth) day of the camp, 12 equal teams (1 per coach) are created and compete in a Fair Play tournament for small prizes (e.g., school supplies). Each daily topic is selected, and implemented, by our local partner (in northern Uganda, this is the Youth Coalition for Peace).