One of the Syrian teams participating in the Peace Football Championship.
DOHA: The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has been nominated for the ‘Peace and Sports’ award for its ‘Peace Football Championship’ for Syrian refugees in Jordan.
Peace and Sports is an international award placed under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The football event was held in Zaatari Camp as part of QRC’s psycho-social support programmes for Syrians in Jordan and received considerable international admiration.
Several organisations have contested for this award, and QRC along with two other applicants have reached the finals. The winner will be announced on November 7, in Monaco, in the presence of Prince Albert II, QRC said in a statement yesterday.
QRC will be represented in Monaco by Dr Mohammed bin Ghanim Al Ali Al Maadheed, Chairman of the Board of Directors. The award puts sport and its values at the heart of local development projects conducted within communities in crisis around the world.
Exercising its missions in post-conflict zones, areas of extreme poverty or lacking social cohesion, Peace and Sport makes sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship at the service of sustainable peace.
QRC’s psycho-social support for Syrians in Jordan incorporates a large number of projects, with a focus on Camp Zaatari, including treatment programmes for adults, play therapy for children and sports for young people, helping refugee families adapt to their difficult circumstances.
The sports programme was one of the most successful support programmes that has been implemented for young people; attended by 132 youngsters.
The players prepared for the “championship of peace” by holding a training session comprised of physical, mental and psychological training.
The programme was carried out in cooperation with Al Arabi sports club which provided clothes and sneakers.
QRC also contributed to the preparation of a ground for the championship which was 75 metres long and 45 metres wide.
Every Friday a match lasting 70 minutes is held between two different groups within the tournament.
QRC Secretary-General Saleh Muhanadi said: “This programme has brought considerable joy and made a positive contribution to alleviating the psychological pressure that young refugees face”.
The Peninsula
