Football for Peace

Football for Peace is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with its headquarters in London and supported by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace. It was co-founded internationally in 2013 by English-born Pakistani footballer Kashif Siddiqi and Chilean FIFA legend Elias Figueroa.

History

Originally started by Figueroa in 2006 as a campaign known as Futbol Por la Paz in South America. Siddiqi became the co-founder of Football for Peace Global in 2013 and in the same year, the concept made the transition from "campaign" to implementing NGO status with its international incorporation. The initiative was based on what had been achieved in the Americas, and brought to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

Global Football for Peace process

In 2015, Football for Peace Global created a peace process[1] which is inclusive of peace matches, legacy projects known as "City for Peace" and sports diplomacy toolkits influencing social change. The process was intended to focus on community integration, reducing tensions between different groups and creating dialogue between nations.

Peace process lobbying

Football for Peace hosted Joko Widodo,[2] 7th president of Indonesia in East London to showcase the peace process on 20 April 2016. He was accompanied by the British government officials where they met 60 youngsters from Newham, London and three Football for Peace ambassadors from Birmingham, who participated in the day-long workshop at Chobham Academy, Newham.[3]

At the event, the NGO showcased educational football diplomacy toolkits which included youth leadership programs in bringing together youths from different backgrounds, religions and ethnicities.

In October 2016, co-founder of Football for Peace, Kashif Siddiqi was invited to meet Pope Francis[4] and launch the first "Sport at the service of Humanity" at a press conference,[5] which was organised by the Pontifical Council for Culture under the leadership of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi at the Vatican[6] and welcomed the presence of faith leaders.[7] Siddiqi spoke on the Global Peace Process and the role sport has to unite.[8]

Peace matches and Cities for Peace

Peace Match 2015

On 8 September 2015, the first international peace match was hosted with the Royal Navy in bringing together Great Britain and Afghanistan. It marked the end of war against the Taliban group in Afghanistan and promoted reconciliation between the nations.[9] It was a five aside peace match, which involved members of the Afghanistan national team and Team Great Britain playing together in the same team against a Footballers for Peace side at the old Royal Naval college in London Greenwich.

The unified Afghanistan and Great Britain was led by former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, who defeated the Footballers for Peace side in front of a crowd, which included Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.[10]

City for Peace 2015

In December 2015,[11] HRH Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge and Mr Wilfried Lemke The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace attended Birmingham for peace project and recognised the young peace ambassadors in the city.[12] The project was based in Birmingham's Saltley Academy and was intended to bring young children from different faith and cultural backgrounds together after Operation Trojan Horse in 2014.[13]

City for Peace 2016

In January 2016, a women's empowerment program was launched in Kozhikode, a coastal city in the south Indian state of Kerala with Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaucho announced an ambassador. He said, "Football has the power to unite the people. It has given me an opportunity and taught me universal values of Friendship and Unity. I am supporting the work carried by Football for Peace Global and proud to be the Guest of Honour of 2016 Sait Nagjee Trophy tournament and becoming a footballer for peace".[14]

Football for Peace worked with Sait Nagjee Trophy Tournament, which is one of the most prestigious tournaments held in Kozhikode. It was the first edition of the tournament in 21 years and the 2016 edition saw clubs from Ukraine, Germany, Brazil, England and Republic of Ireland take part, along with the Argentina U23 side.

FC Dnipro Reserves won the tournament, while Atlético Paranaense Reserves finished as the runners-up in a tournament that was held between 5 and 21 February 2016.

Working with the 2016 Sait Nagjee Trophy Tournament and Kozhikode District Football Association,[15] the organisations cooperated to involve teams from differing nations in tournaments.

After the tournament, Football for Peace delivered a legacy programme dedicated to the female youth of different areas in Kerala, which was intended to allow them to promote empowerment, cultural exchange and peace between various communities.[16]

Structure

The Football for Peace organisation is based on three main structures: the Executive Board, the Steering Committee, the Footballers for Peace Council, the NGO is directed by the three structures and governed by Hogan Lovells, a multinational law firm co-headquartered in London and Washington, D.C.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us – Football for Peace – Our History". Football for Peace. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Burns, Iain. "President of Indonesia pops by for kickaround at Newham school". Newham Recorder. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Investments, Indonesia. "Joko Widodo Visits Europe: Germany, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands | Indonesia Investments". www.indonesia-investments.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kashif Siddiqi out to prove football can do good on Vatican visit". London Evening Standard. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Vatican presents world conference on sport and faith". romereports.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Presentation of the event 'Sport at the Service of Humanity'". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Peacemaker Kashif Siddiqi to meet Pope Francis and launch first 'Sport and Humanity' conference at Vatican". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Ullal, Naveen. "Football for Peace at Vatican: Kashif Siddiqi explains how sport can unite people". International Business Times, Singapore Edition. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Afghanistan-England football match could mark end of Taliban war | Embassy of Afghanistan in London". afghanistanembassy.org.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Peace, Football for. "Football For Peace & Her Majesty's Royal Navy Peace Match – Afghanistan & Great Britain". sitecoreadmin.thepfa.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Prince William shows off his ball skills at a football academy". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "United Nations Sport for Development and Peace – WHY SPORT?". United Nations. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Trojan Horse 'plot' schools timeline". BBC News. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Brazilian legend Ronaldinho inaugurates Sait Nagjee Cup". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Brazilian legend Ronaldinho wows fans in Kozhikode | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "After Ronaldinho visit, Football for Peace sets sights on India-Pakistan football friendly". CatchNews.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
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