One year after launching the « Live Together » program, Peace and Sport announced the Peace Building activities focused on the promotion of peace values and gender equity through sport in the Syrian refugee camp of Za’atari in Jordan. In cooperation with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Fédération Internationale de Teqball (FITEQ) and World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), Peace and Sport through the Live Together Program has benefited 300 young refugees over the last 12 months.

During the program, Peace and Sport together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Relief and Development (IRD/Blumont), ITTF, FITEQ and WAKO and with the support of the Jordan Olympic Committee have introduced new sport activities for all ages. Coaching seminars in different sports and disciplines were introduced to 85 refugees. Among them, seven became official coaches appointed by the International Federations.   The next step, which will count also on the support of the Za’atari Women Commission and the Tiger Girls group, will focus on the promotion and transmission of peace values and gender equity through sport activities. Additionally more International Federations are willing to join the program such as the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF).

Iris Vlachoutsicos, Peace and Sport International Relations and Sport Diplomacy director said: “To celebrate this first year of the “Live Together” program, Peace and Sport and its partners organized the 1st Za’atari camp Table Tennis Championships involving 7 teams of 3 youngsters each and the Za’atari camp Summer Teqball Tournament for 32 young men, 32 boys and 20 girls. These events demonstrated the positive impact that the Program is generating among refugees.”

Za’atari refugee camp opened in 2012 to host Syrians fleeing violence in their home country. It is progressively evolving into a permanent settlement and is the largest Syrian refugee camp. It has become one of the biggest “cities” of Jordan with more than 80,000 inhabitants.