Peace Builders Welcome Basketball Legends to Generations for Peace

Rolando Blackman and Jennifer Azzi are former superstars from the men’s and women’s game in the USA and are part of the Generations For Peace coaching team which will spend 10 days working with leaders of youth from 10 countries.

Launched in 2007 by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Generations For Peace brings together leaders of youth from divided communities and trains them how to use sport to unite the young. The current camp, which runs until March 10, enjoyed a high-profile launch when HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, representing HH Sheikh Hamdan, attended many of the opening day’s sessions with HRH Prince Feisal.

Reflecting on the opening session, HH Sheikh Mohammed said: “Generations For Peace has proven that it is a successful initiative and we have no doubt it will expand and develop further through increased co-operation and the continued support of its leaders, my father HH Sheikh Hamdan and HRH Prince Feisal.”

The 60 delegates, from 10 countries, many of whom had never held a basketball before, learned new skills and coaching methods from the NBA and WNBA legends at the Al Jazira Club and were also taught how to use these skills when they return to their own communities where facilities and equipment are scarce and sometimes non-existent.

“Generations For Peace teaches its delegates that there are no barriers to not only organising sport but for those wanting to take part,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein. “In the opening sessions we have already heard how difficult it is for these leaders of youth to organise any activity within their communities and our role is to help them succeed. Sport has proved in the past that it can be a unifying force for good by bringing people together from of all sides of the divide.”

Generations For Peace combines practical sporting coaching with classroom sessions which confront the serious side of how to overcome conflict using sport. Following their 10-day camp, the delegates will be equipped with the know-how and the support to return home and to cascade the programme within their own troubled communities where Generations For Peace is needed most.

In addition to Nigeria, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon who have taken part before in Generations For Peace camps, new delegates are participating from India, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia as well as the host country, UAE.

As well as the basketball coaches, the Camp also has professional coaches in football, volleyball and softball. The curriculum stresses peace building; focusing on the need to build tolerance and understanding so that youth from communities in conflict can find common grounds rather than be divided by differences.

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.