Play Football Make Peace

Prior to the actual football tournament, which took place in Cambodia during the month of March, 2005, all teams had to take part on a half day preparation meeting which took place on February, 26 and 27, 2005 at STAR Kampuchea office. STAR Kampuchea introduced the background and the ideas of the PSMP-program and the code of conduct. The motto of the meeting was: “Find more than 100 new friends!” Later the soccer rules and fair play rules were introduced and a lesson about meaning of peace and peaceful problem solving was given.

In our perception during the meeting the young people got an idea of the program and agreed with the code of conduct. Their interest was to play good soccer and to have fun.

We would like to highlight in that context that usually soccer tournaments, for example official High School Tournaments, have been accompanied by violence in Cambodia. There have been fights and shootings between the different teams and fans.

We are very pleased that the Play Football Make Peace program has taken place in our country for the youth under 19 years. Most of the young people in Cambodia are faced with problems as drugs or violence. The program opens up an alternative: Football, the most popular sport in the world, encourages the youth to join a sport event. Instead of violence and the law of the jungle they get to know team spirit, fairness and joy, which are important values for a peaceful culture.

In sport, there are similar rules to a peaceful and democratic society: For example, everybody wants to be treated fairly and in the same way. Everybody wants to have the same chance and everybody have to take on responsibility. In this way a football match is fun for everybody whether they win or loose.

We are very proud that we have succeeded to communicate the spirit of peace and fairness at the tournament to prove that also in Cambodia young people want to have fun and a peaceful good time.

Above all, the Cambodians want to live in peace. Therefore we have to include young people in development activities instead of leaving them on their own devices. Finally, the youth is the hope of our future!