The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Generations For Peace, have agreed a two-year partnership to implement a social cohesion programme that will reach at least five thousand Jordanian and Syrian refugee children and youth in twelve selected host communities most in need. Said Prince Feisal Al-Hussein, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace, said:
“We are extremely happy to be partnering with UNICEF in Jordan for the first time. With the generous support of UNICEF, Generations For Peace will work with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Development (JOHUD) and the Higher Council for Youth (HCY) to bring Jordanian and Syrian children and youth together to participate in innovative sport-based games and arts-based activities, helping to break stereotypes and strengthen social cohesion, reducing tension and risk of violence, and supporting child and youth development in communities that need our help the most.”
“We are very excited about this partnership with Generations for Peace,” added Robert Jenkins, Country Representative for UNICEF Jordan. “It greatly complements UNICEF’s ongoing support for child protection, health, hygiene and youth development and education programmes in Jordan, and our efforts to prevent Syria’s children becoming a ‘lost generation.’ It complements our existing Life Skills programme with JOHUD and Higher Council for Youth, adding the unique approach and activities of Generations For Peace to strengthen social cohesion in these host communities, who are facing face enormous pressures and tensions.”
Host communities in Jordan have absorbed approximately 480,000 Syrian refugees, putting extreme pressures on all services and creating natural tensions and frustrations. Generations For Peace will provide training, mentoring and support to staff at selected JOHUD and HCY Centres. A variety of activities will be strategically implemented to engage children and youth, to support their behaviour change and strengthen relationships, based on greater understanding, tolerance and respect UNICEF’s support to Generation for Peace is made possible with the generous contribution from the Government of Germany through its KfW banking group, the world’s largest promotional bank.
This article was republished with permission from the editor and publisher of the Sport Intern, Karl Heinz-Huba.