Tag Archives: peace

by | February 20, 2013 · 4:37 pm

Meet Pete and the Coaching Team!

None of the incredible work  PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) does would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our coaches  That is why this week we took some time to show some appreciation for our local coaches in a special video!

One of our most experienced coaches is Peter Kerr. Peter worked with PPI-NI when we were called “Playing For Peace” and did some work in his home town of Dungannon. Over the past month we have been dedicating time to develop our coaches’ capacity to be the best that they can be for all our programmes. We are in the midst of exciting times, with our sessional staff taking on some increased responsibility in leading twinnings as lead coaches. Leadership Programme Development Coordinator Darryl Petticrew sat down with him to ask about his return.

Darryl: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with PPI-NI?

Pete: Well, I recently completed my degree at the University of Ulster. I started work with the organization when I was 17, teaching young kids how to play basketball in the Dungannon – Cookstown area. Having come from a mixed background I have always had a strong belief in bringing both sides of the community together and bringing peace to Northern Ireland. I have not seen many better alternatives than what PeacePlayers does.

Darryl: What inspired you to start playing sport and how has it impacted your life?

Pete: Throughout my life I have played many different sports including hurling, rugby, Gaelic and swimming as well as basketball. I have always loved playing team games. It teaches respect, trust, and how to understand different points of view. I remember the first time I ever saw basketball on my television. It was the Orlando Magic versus the Chicago Bulls and greats such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Penny Hardaway, Horace Grant and of course the magical Michael Jordan were all on court. I was hypnotized. I knew right then, I had to give the sport a go and it has from then on been a big part of my life.

Darryl: What is your favourite part about working for PPI-NI?

Pete: I love working with kids and getting them interested in a fantastic sport as well as making them aware of their similarities, differences, and to be proud of who they are, but also be respectful and mindful of others.

Darryl: Most importantly, if you could be one piece of basketball equipment, what would it be and why?

Pete: I have to say if I was to be one piece of equipment for playing basketball I would be the sneakers because in order for a player to hustle and work hard on court you need to have the right support and comfort on your feet!

 

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by | January 21, 2013 · 5:25 pm

PeacePlayers Celebrates the Presidential Inauguration

President Obama being inauguarated

President Obama being inaugurated for his second term

The dreams Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out in his famous speech in front of a crowd of thousands in Washington, DC nearly 50 years ago are ringing true today. In front of another crowd of thousands in the nation’s capital, Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States, is being inaugurated for his second term on the same day that we celebrate the achievements of Dr. King, the esteemed civil rights leader.

Dr. Martin Luther King addressing the crowd in D.C. August 28, 1963.

Dr. Martin Luther King addressing the crowd in D.C. August 28, 1963.

When Dr. King gave his speech in 1963, the nation was riddled with racism and segregation and African-Americans weren’t able to vote or run for office in parts of the South. Despite all of this, he still dreamed of a place where his children would be judged “not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Today, President Obama will take his oath of office on Martin Luther King Jr’s bible, as well as another bible used by President Abraham Lincoln, who wrote the Emancipation Proclamation that brought an end to slavery in the United States 150 years ago.

King and Lincoln dared to dream and think differently, laying the groundwork for a country where every man and woman are equal. In a speech yesterday, President Obama reminded the American people that the inauguration is a time to “celebrate each other and this incredible nation we call home” and that every person has to “work hard as they can on issues important to them” and that ”there is something bigger than ourselves.”

Children around the world

Children around the world dream of change to see others as teammates and friends.

PeacePlayers International encourages children in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa and Cyprus, areas with a long history of conflict to dream of change to see others as teammates and friends. If children can think peacefully and work together, changing the status quo, they can start to change the thinking of their nations. Today is a perfect one to reflect on the power of dreams and change and the incredible work happening every day around the world.

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by | September 28, 2012 · 3:01 pm

PPI-CY team member volunteers at the Paralympic Games

Sell-out crowd at the goal ball games!

We at PPI – Cyprus are excited to announce that Stephanie Nicolas has accepted an offer to join our team as an assistant coordinator.  If you have been following our blog, you may remember Stef as a constant volunteer and a true supporter of PeacePlayers who is dedicated to our work in youth basketball and bi-communal relations on the island.  Check out the past blog on Stef, and enjoy reading about her experiences this past month as a volunteer in London for the Paralympic Games:

Paralympics 2012

I always wanted to volunteer and be part of the Olympic and Paralympic games since Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, but I was not old enough when the volunteer applications opened up to apply for a volunteering role. When I found out that the 2012 Olympics were going to be held in London I got really excited, I was already in England finishing my Bachelor’s degree and I was going to stay one more year to do my Masters which was finishing in 2012. I  was offered the opportunity to apply through my University to volunteer for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2011.   After an interview and a long waiting, I finally got a volunteering role for the Paralympic Games. There was a series of role training and venue training events that I needed to attend in order to be officially train for my specific role which was a sport statistician.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games took place in London, starting 2 weeks after the end of the Olympic Games. The Paralympics consisted of 20 sports with 4,294 participating athletes from 164 nations.  Their motto was “Inspire a Generation”.

From day one of the Paralympic Games the Olympic park was never empty; it was full with people from all ages that were attending different sporting events, supporting their countries and families. For the Olympics you could find online tickets for some events, but for the Paralympics there was nothing available, everything was sold out even the day passes.

When I asked a fellow volunteer that was working in the Olympic stadium for both Olympic and Paralympic games, which crowd was the best, he told me the Olympics were all about breaking records but the Paralympics the crowd was amazing, cheering all the time from the beginning the athletes started until they finished. I remember walking outside of the Olympic stadium one day when I finished my shift, and I felt the whole stadium rumbling, the atmosphere was fantastic.

My venue, the Copper Box was the same as well. I was working as a sport statistician for Goalball a sport for visual impaired athletes. My job was to tab in all the actions that were happening on the court, the statistics that you see on TV after each half, this was my job.

I remember on my first day, the Great Britain men’s team was opening the goalball games. The whole venue was full, from adults to babies and we also had royalty visiting us, Prince William and Kate whom I apparently missed seeing as I was too concentrated on the game.

I have to say I never experienced something like this before, every time the GB teams were coming on court the whole venue was shacking from the noise, I had goose bumps from the beginning of my shift until I went home. This was happening with other countries as well, there was support from all the people despite their nationality there were there to enjoy the games and support all the athletes.

Something that I will always remember, was the support from the crowd to all the teams, despite their lost at the end of the each game the crowd was on their feet cheering for them and their effort.

London Paralympics 2012

This example shows the purpose of these games, even though athletes come to compete, they still become one; congratulating and supporting the efforts that fellow athletes make to win any medal.  Spectators of the sports and people from around the world come together to support athletes from different nationalities, different countries, they come together to experience something different and create a peaceful environment for events like the Olympics and the Paralympics to take place.

From all this experience I met new people, almost royalty J lol, and I experienced something that really applies to PeacePlayers as well.  It allowed me to see once again how sports can allow you to grow individually and see others as equals without having nationality or ethnicity barriers separating us.

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by | September 20, 2012 · 7:22 pm

Seeing each other as people…. with masks on

The mask workshop requires physical closeness and trust between Palestinian and Israeli participants

LDP-er Juman (right) shows a younger PeacePlayers the right moves on the basketball court

This past weekend, PPI – ME returned to Kibbutz Sdot Yam for another in a long line of retreats that we’ve been holding to kick off the year. First there was the Jerusalem All-Stars excursion to Eilat last month, and the Professional Development Retreat for coaches took place a week after that. This time around it was the Peace Education Retreat for kids from East and West Jerusalem and the surrounding area. More than 50 kids ages 12-14 as well as Leadership Development Program (LDP) kids 15 and up were in attendance. In addition to playing basketball, the younger kids, many of whom are totally new to PPI, got an intensive intro to the Peace Education curriculum, which teaches kids to see each other as people on the basketball court and off. The workshop was led by new on-staff facilitators Nissreen and Renana, who led the session in two groups, one in Hebrew and one in Arabic, to maximize the younger children’s comprehension and ability to actively participate. LDP, who are already well versed in the curriculum, are putting a greater emphasis on gaining the tools to lead the curriculum.

On-staff facilitator Renana leads younger and newer participants in an Anatomy of Peace workshop

As an extra treat, PPI – ME Project Manager and facilitator Nissreen (who is also an artist) led a creative workshop that delves into the notion of cooperation and trust that are at the core of our program. For the activity, Palestinian and Israeli youth were split up into mixed pairs. Each member of every pair was charged with the task of applying plaster masks to his or her partner’s face. As Nissreen explains, the workshop offers an opportunity for intense cooperation, trust and communication. “Plaster, when not applied correctly with the right amount of Vaseline can stick to a person’s skin. Each member of the pair had to trust that the other person was taking the care to apply the mask the right way.” Nissreen also added that “the physical interaction make them feel comfortable with one another. Having contact with each other’s faces, which is very intimate, creates a sense of closeness and creates a positive feeling.” Workshops like these complement the impact of basketball, which works the body, and the curriculum, which works the mind, by creating a casual and fun way to build closeness.

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by | September 14, 2012 · 1:57 pm

PPI – CY’s Athanasios Souflias attends The Anatomy of Peace Facilitator Training

Aloha from Hawaii

This past month, PeacePlayers Cyprus’ basketball coordinator Athanasios Souflias had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii for a two week long Anatomy of Peace Facilitator Training.  The Anatomy of Peace is a model for conflict resolution developed by the Arbinger Institue that PPI has adopted to use in all its programs, supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. This week we sat down with Athanasios to hear about his experiences.

Thanasis with 2 PPI – Middle East family members

Can you tell us about the seminar?

The training session was hosted at BYU-Hawaii’s McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding and led by PPI board of directors’ member Chad Ford.  Myself and 2 members of the PPI Middle East family attended the training that lasted 9 days, spending over 5 hours a day in the classroom learning the principles and methods introduced in the Anatomy of Peace’s conflict transformation curriculum.  We were also introduced to the art of sharing such principles as a trainer in the Anatomy of Peace seminars.

What sort of preparations did you have to make before taking part in the trainers seminar?

I read the book The Anatomy of Peace and had to reflect on and write several personal stories on how such situations have been present in my own life.  For example, the essays were written on instances in which I may have been in conflict with an individual and how we moved out of the conflict.  I also wrote a paper analyzing the techniques implemented by the facilitators in the book.

What did you personally gain from reading the book and attending the training seminar?

The experience was a life-changing event; it changed the way that I conceptualize individuals.  It gave me a better insight into understanding others and seeking to understand what others may carry with them in their minds and in their hearts.

What do you hope to bring back from your experiences to share with the PPI program in Cyprus? 

I would like to facilitate these seminars with Cypriot youth and encourage the kids to take such principles, including examining how they see “others” and apply them within their own lives.

What was the best moment of the experience for you? 

There were two moments that really stood out over the 2 weeks for me.  One being the excursion that other participants in the training and I took to visit waterfalls in the nearby mountains.  The other being the opportunity to facilitate an Anatomy of Peace training session for the first time.

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by | September 13, 2012 · 4:19 pm

Holon and Fureidis Work It Out While Working Out

The girls counted out loud through exercise sets in Hebrew, Arabic in English

While most teams in the Twinned Basketball Clubs (TBC) program won’t start Twinning (AKA joint activities) until later in the fall, two teams have already started getting into the swing of things with joint fitness trainings on the beach in Herzliya. The two teams, which include teenage girls from the Jewish town of Holon and the Arab town of Fureidis, are new to PPI and consequently new to each other. Last week’s twinning was the first of what will be weekly fitness trainings throughout the month of September. Starting in October, activities will revert to the standard TBC format, whereby the two teams will practice twice a week in their own communities and come together for Twinnings twice each month. Fitness trainings are led by trainer Alon Levy, who last year led joint fitness trainings for the Jerusalem All-Stars and Elitzur Holon, so he knows all about working things out by working out.

Last week’s joint training was the first time that most girls had met “the other side”

The first training session was held in a friendly casual manner, letting the girls settle into the idea of working out with girls from the other side of the Arab-Jewish divide, which isn’t exactly a usual occurrence in Israel. Out loud, the girls counted their ways through exercise sets in unison, alternating between Hebrew, Arabic and English.

The next training session will take more of a direct Twinning approach, with more of a focus on working together, playing beach volleyball on mixed teams and other muscle- and team-building games. While the two teams are new to PPI – ME, these two communities have already been involved in the TBC in some capacity. Holon has been cooperating with PPI – ME for the past two years, and since last year has had an official team in the TBC. This year, Holon is sending another two teams to the TBC, including the girls in this post. Fureidis has been a guest of honor at many of our special events, including tournaments, but only this year became a full-fledged TBC member, with two new teams also participating.

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by | August 27, 2012 · 6:22 pm

Peace (English), Síochán (Irish), Isithangami (Zulu), Uxolo (Xhosa), Vrede (Afrikaans), Khotso (Sesotho), Kagiso (Setswana), Ειρήνη (Greek), Barış (Turkish), שלום (Hebrew), سلام (Arabic)

Everyone needs a dose of inspiration every now and then! We all face challenges every day. Thinking creatively to find ways to solve problems, taking risks to learn or accept something new, resolving small disputes with friends, working to make our families happy and our communities thrive… there are always opportunities to pause and consider the strength that comes with peace. Here are some of our favorite sayings about living with peace of mind, trust, and tolerance, as well as working for peace around the world!

“First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” -Thomas à Kempis

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” -Dalai Lama

“Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.” -Baruch Spinoza

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” -Nelson Mandela

“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” -John F. Kennedy

“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.”         -Maria Montessori

“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.”              -Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” -Albert Einstein

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”                           -Mother Teresa

“Peace begins with a smile.” -Mother Teresa

“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.”                 -Buddha

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by | August 24, 2012 · 4:27 pm

From the Archive: PPI-Cyprus Proposes a Basketball Court in the Buffer Zone

Today’s From the Field blog will take a look at a post from PPI-CY’s past, from October 15, 2010. 

The Nicosia Buffer Zone, the proposed location of the PeacePlayers Buffer Zone Basketball Court

Just a 5 minute walk from PeacePlayers – Cyprus’ office in downtown Nicosia lies a 10 foot brick wall covered in barbed wire that cuts through the center of the city. This wall guards the edge of the “green line” or “buffer zone,” a militarized area controlled by the United Nations that runs 110 miles over the full length of the Cyprus. This barren land is a constant reminder of the tragic events that occurred over 35 years ago, which left a country divided into two parts.

But what if this area can be turned from a symbol of conflict, to a symbol of peace?

The blue band across the center of the island is the buffer zone. Click to see the map in more detail.

Cyprus has been a divided island since 1974, after a Greek military coup followed by an invasion by the Turkish Army left the island’s Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot residents separated by the buffer zone. Today, Cyprus remains partitioned by the UN-patrolled buffer zone, with Greek-Cypriots concentrated in the southern part of the island and Turkish-Cypriots in the north. Only in 2003 were even limited crossings allowed between the two communities, and children from both ethnic groups are still subjected to negative propaganda about the other side from their parents, schools and media.

A girls team of Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots at this years PeacePlayers Peace Day Basketball Tournament

We at PeacePlayers – Cyprus use the game of basketball to facilitate positive dialogue and interaction between Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot youth, with the ultimate goal being improved relations between the two communities in Cyprus. There is currently no basketball court located in the buffer zone, which means all basketball games must be located on either side of the green line. This creates a major problem because many kids and parents from both communities cannot or will not cross to the other side.

Building a court in the buffer zone would be a symbol for peace; a safe place where children from two divided communities can come together on neutral ground to play, learn and grow for generations.

We are currently working with many partners to try to make this dream a reality. Nothing like this has been done before in Cyprus, and there are some obstacles in our way. But the impact a Buffer Zone court would be immeasurable. The buffer zone is one of the only areas on the island where Greek and Turkish-Cypriots can meet on equal terms. It is more than “convenient,” it is essential to the impact we ultimately hope to make.

The PeacePlayers Buffer Zone Basketball Court would not only be practical for many kids to use, but a picturesque symbol for hope in the center of conflict, in the divided capital of Cyprus.

P.S. PPI – Cyprus has entered this project into an innovative design competition sponsored by Architecture for Humanity and Game Changers’ “Sports Micro Venture Fund.” Check it out here.

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by | February 13, 2012 · 8:14 pm

From Intern to Staff Member, Ska was through it all

Brian, in the red, bringing the power of PPI to Tajikistan.

This is the first in a series of short interviews “Better know the peacebuilders at PeacePlayers.” As it is our first time conducting these short, more personal interviews, we started in our Washington, DC headquarters.  We plan on expanding to our program sites so that you can get to know our team!

I was able to sneak Brian Cognato, Technical Assistance Program Director, away from his busy Monday schedule to ask him a few questions about himself and his role within PPI.

Brian at a conference in Tajikistan

Oscar Norsworthy (O): What did you study in college and how did you apply what you learned in the classroom to your work at PPI?

Brian Cognato (B): I double majored in English and International Relations at the University of Maryland in College Park. My initial role here in the office was in fundraising, mostly grant writing, so it turns out that I was able to utilize both of those skill sets right away. The most important thing I learned in school was how you need to write for specific audiences, and that outweighs the need to write something “pretty.” It doesn’t matter if its “good” or “bad,” as long as the writing resonates with the audience your communicating with.

O: What did you before PPI and how did you hear about this project?

B: Actually, I interned with PPI the summer after my Junior year at Maryland, which then turned into an internship all of senior year, which then turned into a full time position when I graduated. So I’ve been here for just about my whole career so far. I first heard about PPI when Dave Cullen and Trevor Ringland won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on ESPN.  I was taking a British history course in London at the time, and learning about The Troubles, so the need for an organization like PPI resonated with me.

O: What is your role within PPI?

B: I’m leading our new ”Technical Assistance Program,” which takes what we have learned in our sites and shares it with interested partners. Since its inception in July 2011 we have worked on projects in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Yemen, and Chicago. My biggest responsibility is ensuring that we lay the groundwork for sustainable change after a project ends.

Brian works with partners at Laureus Summit in London, UK.

O: What movie defined your childhood and what song defined your high school years?

B:  As for the movie, probably Rocky. Maybe Rocky 4. Growing up near Philadelphia, those movies were just in the air – I remember going to Phillies games when they were terrible, but they’d always play the Rocky song to try to rally them for a win. When it comes to what song defined my high school years, I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I was a huge ska fan in high school (laughing). My favorite song was probably “Point/ Counterpoint” by Streetlight Manifesto. (Brian later e-mailed 3-4 times changing his favorite song, until he finally settled on “Rudie Can’t Fail” by The Clash.)

Thanks for reading! If you think of any questions you’d like to hear the PPI team answer, feel free to contact us at socialmedia@peaceplayersintl.org.

This post was written by the Communications and Development Intern, Oscar Norsworthy. He is a Junior majoring in Sociology at The George Washington University.

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by | March 16, 2011 · 1:20 pm

Prince William and Catherine Middleton select PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland as a beneficiary of the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton have set up a charitable gift fund for those who may very generously wish to donate to charity to help the couple celebrate their April wedding. Having been touched by the goodwill shown them since the announcement of their engagement, Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone who might wish to give them a wedding gift consider giving instead to a charitable fund.

PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) is one of the 26 charities that have been personally chosen by Prince William and Miss Middleton in both the UK and abroad. The donations will be held in a specifically designated account by the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and grants will be distributed in partnership with the benefiting charities to ensure maximum impact.

During their recent visit to Belfast, Prince William and Miss Middleton met representatives of the charity.

“It is a great honour for PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland to have been selected by Prince William and Miss Middleton,” said Trevor Ringland, PPI-NI Board Chairman. “We are flattered that both the work of PPI-NI and the role of sport in conflict transformation are being recognized in such a highly visible manner. We are very proud of the fact that PPI-NI participants are given the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with children from the other community by competing on integrated teams. These children represent the building blocks of peace for our future.”

Donations can be made through the website royalweddingcharityfund.org, which includes a full list of the charities, via text message to the short code 70294, and via telephone by calling 0300 123 2904. Cheques can also be sent to The Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund, c/o St. James’s Palace, London SW1A 1BS.

About PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland: PPI-NI is a cross-community charity that uses the game of basketball to unite young people from the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist and Catholic/Republican/Nationalist communities in Belfast and select surrounding areas. Basketball, unlike traditional sports, is not affiliated with either community, and therefore provides a neutral space to address the cultural divide. By competing together on integrated teams, children from these historically divided communities can discover common ground and forge new friendships. The contact element of PPI-NI’s programmes is further enhanced through age-appropriate community relations and team-building activities that aim to bridge divides, change perceptions, and empower children to impart positive change in their communities. Since 2002, PPI-NI has worked with thousands of young people to successfully challenge sectarianism and promote mutual respect in the communities that suffer most from the legacy of conflict.

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