Finding Peace Through Sports

BY JOLYNN FISHER | January 19, 2007

Country: Sudan

Topics: HIV/AIDS, Peaceful Change, Sports

Participants parade around the playing field before a sports tournament. Photo: Mercy Corps

Life is fragile in southern Sudan. Though the 21-year civil conflict has ended, southern Sudan now faces the widespread threat of HIV/AIDS in a largely illiterate society whose educational and media infrastructure have been stymied by the conflict.

However, the people of southern Sudan are fighting to reclaim their communities and their lives.

"Since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed last year, community leaders and government officials have been eager to demonstrate the benefits of peace and alternatives to fighting," said Cathy Bergman, Mercy Corps Program Officer for East Africa. "They are particularly interested in using sporting events and health competition to promote the alternatives."

Building on its successful sports development programming in Uzbekistan and Iraq, Mercy Corps developed the Sports, Peace and Life (SPL) program to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness in southern Sudan.

With changing community dynamics, traditionally isolated communities are being challenged to deal with HIV/AIDS. As a result, there is a need to introduce conversations about HIV/AIDS in a way that combats stigma and delivers hope. SPL has helped raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among youth.

The SPL project has also helped to strengthen peace building efforts among youth groups, as well as increasing HIV/AIDS awareness through training of peer educators. Key to this education was the partnership with NikeGOProduct, who donated 60,000 Nike products for the program. These products were distributed to 30,000 youth and facilitated the establishment of eleven "Peace Centers" for youth groups across southern Sudan.

Due to its success, the SPL program has been extended. The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has pledged to fund the program for nine months, in collaboration with the Government of southern Sudan's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Grassroot Soccer and NikeGoProduct.