PEACE AND SPORT INTERNATIONAL FORUM 2024

PEACE AND SPORT AWARDS 2024 Nominees in the Peace Education through Sport Category

Association Pour le Sourire d'un Enfant

Académie Escrime & Justice Réparatrice (E&JR)

Association Pour le Sourire d’un Enfant advocates for children’s rights in Senegal, focusing on offering alternatives to street life and detention for vulnerable youth. Active since 1988, it provides education and development programs, impacting over 4,000 children annually. The E&JR Academy trains social educators to use fencing as a tool for restorative justice, reducing recidivism and promoting inclusion. With certified programs, it has reduced reoffending rates among detained minors and expanded to new regions and countries, fostering cross-regional cooperation for a more peaceful, inclusive society.
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Independiente del Valle

Latidos del Valle

Independiente del Valle (IDV) is an Ecuadorian football club committed to educating youth through football, focusing on inclusion, anti-racism, and social resilience. Its "Latidos del Valle" initiative offers workshops that promote respect and fight racism, while the annual "Copa Mitad del Mundo" unites 350 youth from across Latin America, fostering cultural understanding. Beyond this, IDV supports 250 players from violence-affected communities with guidance from social workers and psychologists, helping them navigate challenges. Visible symbols of respect, such as a “Chart for Respect” and a stadium anti-racism exhibit, reinforce IDV’s commitment to inclusion and community empowerment.
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PeacePlayers International - Northern Ireland

Coach Development Program

PeacePlayers is a global movement that uses basketball to bridge divides and foster connections in conflict-prone communities. In Northern Ireland, over 1,500 youth participate annually in programs that blend sports training with conflict resolution, aiming to create an inclusive society. The Coaches Development Program trains individuals as community leaders skilled in peace-building, addressing racism, and bridging sectarian divides. Through experiential learning with community partners, participants gain qualifications and make lasting impact, promoting cross-community engagement in a region where sectarianism still affects daily life. This initiative fosters sustainable, positive change for a united future.
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 Nominees in the Empowerment through Sport category

Fundacion Futbol con Corazon (FCC)

Trainers for Change

Fútbol Con Corazón (FCC) is a Colombian organization dedicated to educating youth in values and life skills through football. Its innovative program in the Department of Atlantico trains 40 women coaches to lead football schools, empowering them as community leaders and offering stable income. The program fosters social development for over 1,200 girls and young women, creating safe, educational environments that build life skills and promote gender equality. To date, FCC’s initiative has achieved a 10% increase in socio-emotional skills, benefitting 2,000 people indirectly, while establishing 10 active football schools and organizing a Football League for Peace to strengthen community ties.
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FundLife International

Girls Community League

Based in the Philippines, FundLife is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable children in emergencies through sports, education, and mentorship. Its Girls Community League program supports girls affected by poverty and disruptions caused by COVID-19 and typhoons, by reintegrating them into school, enhancing life skills, and building resilience. From 2023 to 2024, GCL engaged 435 girls through sports-based mentorship, remedial education, and safe play spaces, including 400 play sessions, 200 study support sessions, and 24 tournaments. This led to a school drop-out rate reduction from 14% to less than 1%, increased participation in sports, and stronger ties with community leaders and parents.
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Lighthouse Relief

Score4TheFuture

Lighthouse Relief is a nonprofit founded in 2015 to support displaced people in Greece by providing essential assistance and fostering well-being. The Score4TheFuture program, a core initiative, uses sports to enhance mental and physical health for children and youth in refugee camps, with a focus on social cohesion and gender equality through inclusive sports. Weekly sessions in various sports, including female-only activities, are held in collaboration with local clubs to build resilience and social integration. In 2024 alone, Score4TheFuture delivered 160 sessions for over 500 participants, with 90% reporting improved well-being and 75% forming new connections, reducing community tensions.
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 Nominees in the Coalitions for Peace through Sport category

International Automobile Federation (FIA)

United Against Online Abuse

Through its “United Against Online Abuse” campaign,  the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) advocates for safe, sustainable, and inclusive mobility. The campaign unites governments, tech platforms, and sports organizations to counteract online abuse in sports, focusing on understanding and reducing harmful behaviours through training, awareness, and policy change. The program prioritizes evidence-based solutions with research initiatives, academic certifications, and mental health resources, aiming for a universally applicable framework across sports. Results include launching an educational module, granting scholarships, and establishing the first industry barometer to measure online abuse in sports.
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Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)

ICESCO Sport for Social Impact Initiative

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is an international organization dedicated to education, science, and culture. Its Sport for Social Inclusion (SSI) initiative uses sports as a vehicle for social change by building coalitions and organizing sports competitions and policy dialogues to foster peace and social cohesion. SSI emphasizes community-led sports programs to empower youth, women, and marginalized groups, creating inclusive spaces for personal growth and social integration. Results include training over 2,000 vulnerable children in six countries, hosting the ICESCO Marathon for social cohesion, and advancing gender equity in sports policies worldwide.
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Red VIRAL

Knockout: Do Not Give Up

Red VIRAL is a Mexican national network focused on community-based violence prevention, utilizing arts, sports, public space transformation, and capacity building to foster social cohesion. The Knockout: Do Not Give Up program specifically supports social reintegration for incarcerated individuals through boxing and emotional support, promoting discipline, health, and skills for successful reinsertion into society. By offering boxing clinics, psycho-emotional support, family engagement, and post-incarceration certification, Knockout aids in addiction recovery, emotional regulation, and life skills development. With over 6,000 beneficiaries across two countries, the program has achieved a 90% addiction recovery rate, improved self-esteem, and employment pathways for certified trainers.
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 Nominees in the Diplomatic Action of the Year category

Commonwealth Games Federation

Commonwealth Sport Declaration on Reconciliation and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples

The Commonwealth Games Federation oversees the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, promoting unity through sport within the Commonwealth Sports Movement. In November 2023, the Federation launched a Declaration aimed at using sports to foster reconciliation and empowerment among Indigenous Peoples, addressing historical injustices like land theft and cultural loss. This initiative seeks 100 signatories by the end of 2025 and includes actions such as supporting Indigenous well-being, developing sustainable sports policies, and ensuring Indigenous participation in education and events, thereby leveraging sport as a vital tool for healing and social justice.
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Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB)

Brotherhood Series

The “Brotherhood Series” commemorates 136 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Dominican Republic through a series of baseball games, showcasing the cultural and sporting ties between the two nations. Coordinated by government and baseball authorities, the event included games across 20 cities in Mexico and one in the U.S., featuring ceremonial first pitches, national anthems, and player autographs. This initiative not only celebrated the contributions of Dominican players to Mexican baseball but also strengthened bilateral ties, reinforcing the significance of sports in fostering connections between both countries.
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Winds of Change

Winds of Change

Winds of Change, founded by Olympian and IOC Young Leader Dr. Sophia Papamichalopoulos, is a peace-building initiative that unites Cypriot youth from both sides of the island through sailing and Olympic values. Its 2023 sailing program achieved the first bi-communal circumnavigation of Cyprus in 50 years, creating the first-ever unified Cypriot sailing team. By fostering teamwork, intercultural dialogue, and resilience, the initiative empowers young people to pursue shared goals and bridge deep-seated divides. Celebrated with a UN recognition and Cyprus’ Peace Award, the program has inspired a ripple effect, with alumni now leading their own sports-for-peace efforts.
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