SPORTS FOR PEACE

Sports for Peace
on my Manila Standard Column Sept. 10, 2010

One of the common goals of sporting meets is to promote peace and unity amongst the citizens of the region, and even the planet. Sports has the power to do just that. Throughout history, conflicts and differences are set aside once foes step on the sporting arena, and that’s the beauty of it. Take the Olympic Games for example. Part of its greatness is that it can it can make for a more utopian state.

Recently, a group has used sports to teach tolerance and understanding in the conflict-ravaged corners of the south, in Mindanao. Non-exposure to other cultures and beliefs, and perhaps lack of education can lead to intolerance of others, and later on could translate to hatred. Hatred could poison the citizenry and this at times leads to war.

200 children at the impressionable age of 10-12 years old from Northeast Mindanao came together in Butuan City to learn how to live in peace and be part of the peace process through sports. These children of indigenous and Muslim backgrounds are brought to Butuan get to experience playing alongside Christian children.

This is the dream of “Sports for Peace”. IT is made to address conflicts amongst communities and its people. The children they chose are from one of the poorest areas of Mindanao – Caraga. Over 53% of the residents there live below the poverty line, with most living in fear because of the presence of communist rebels.

Through the efforts of a German-based group called GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) group with the cooperation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPPAP, with the Department of Education and the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del-Norte, Siargao and Dinagat Islands, they were able to engage and mobilize eight different schools from the region.

Participants were able to take up values through the sporting event and are given the opportunity to understand the culture of their Christian playmates. They were able to learn the “importance of respect, acceptance, and the cultures and faith traditions that are different from their own”, according to GTZ. Even the coaches and the parents that accompanied the children were also given peace exercises through various sports programs.

They mixed the kids; Christian, Muslim, kids from different areas and different
schools were put together in new groups. Harnessing teamwork was a bit of a challenge at first but eventually, it was the same camaraderie with their “new friends” that made the games special. Even the way they gave points or rewards was different. It was based on how well they “learn and practice the sports values, self control, fair play and respect”.

As GTZ aptly put it: “The children came to play thinking that they would compete for honor, but they experienced how much more fulfilling it is to play with honor”.

I write about this because this to me is so inspiring. With everything that’s going on in our country, with everything our children are exposed to – massacres and hostage takings – we have to more find inspiration from the good in our society. Congratulations to the Sports for Peace group. May your efforts be copied, and the results be multiplied.

For more great efforts such as this one, please tweet @patriciahizon or go to www.patriciahizon.blogspot.com