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Fez, Morocco. Football for Humanity (FFH) was named one of the recipients of the Sport for One Humanity capacity development program established by Turkish Airlines and powered by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) at the 9th Global Forum (FezForum) on November 22-23 at the Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace.
The Sport for One Humanity initiative was established by Turkish Airlines with the support of the UNAOC to honour the efforts of civil society organisations (CSOs) who contribute to peace and development and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sport. The program’s main objective is to select and support innovative sports-based projects that promote a culture of peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation among diverse communities and cultures around the world, with a priority on projects that embody the SDGs of diversity and inclusiveness, education and empowerment of youth, empowerment of women and girls, the inclusion of persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups and fostering peaceful and inclusive societies.
CAPACITY BUILDING
The grant provides instruction and education on capacity building through online training sessions, mentoring, and face-to-face workshops based on the recipient’s unique needs. From among 600 plus entries coming from 83 countries, ten were selected, including FFH’s Stop the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (StopOSAEC).
The other organisations and their notable projects are Golden Boots (Uganda): The Sport for Protection project (STOP); Football for All Vietnam (Vietnam): The Football for All in Vietnam; Open Field (Cameroon): Sports as a Community Opportunity to Respond and Engage (S.C.O.R.E); Education for Sharing (Mexico): Sports for Sharing (S4S); College of Youth Activism and Development (Pakistan): The Baluchistan Indigenous Games Restoration and Standardization Project; Jordan Youth Innovation Forum (Jordan): Youth-led Street Sports For All; Dream a Dream (India): After School Life Skills Programme; Together Advancing Common Trust-Skopje (North Macedonia): Balkanplay4inclusion; and Angaza Sports and Development Centre (Kenya): The Play for Peace project.
In a side session, the ten recipients were called onstage to say a few words regarding their program in the presence of the High Representative for UNAOC, Mr Miguel Moratinos, Laura Georges, Secretary General of the French Football Federation, Christian Karembeu, former professional footballer for Real Madrid and currently the sporting director for Olympiacos, Ms Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Director of the Human and Social Sciences Sector, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Mr Victor Ochen, Founder and Executive Director, African Youth Initiative Network, and Ms Rowena Samarasinhe, Managing Director, GENSport, among several other UN dignitaries and officials attending the 9th Global Forum in Morocco: unaoc.org/sportforonehumanity.
INSPIRING, MIND-OPENING
VP and Co-Founder of FFH Belle Tiongco, who attended on behalf of her foundation, describes the experience as “inspiring and mind-opening.” Ms Tiongco added,” This is the first time that I was able to interact with these many nationalities, many of them young individuals, and all of them optimistic and enthusiastic about their advocacies and the upliftment of their countrymen. I was in awe of the universality of our belief in sport as a catalyst for social change and the inspiring ways we use the power of sport to defeat the evils of society.”
Football for Humanity implemented the “Stop Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children” (StopOSAEC) project with a grant from the Australian Embassy in Manila in 2021. In its launch, it has trained 35 coaches on its specially designed grassroots football program implemented in 40 communities in strategically selected locations across the Philippines, directly benefiting over 1400 children. FFH is supported by partner organisations such as the Department of Justice/Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ/IACAT), PLDT&SMART, Coaches Across Continents, and PAGEONE Media/Advocacy Partners Asia.
Football for Humanity is registered in the Philippines and the UK. FFH uses the power of sport and play to educate, empower and protect children facing the threat of abuse, exploitation, and violence.
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