Play Football Make Peace

Play Football Make Peace has been active in Jordan since 2005. The first project was organized with the Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre (PBYRC), which is part of the Queen Zein Al-Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID), and its focus is to promote the active role of youth in society, and enhance their participation in the development process. PBYRC also seeks to provide the opportunity, support and freedom for youth to express their needs and shape new realities. The PBYRC recruited Mr. Walid Abu Shanab to organize the sports project, which was extremely very well received and opened new possibilities for the work of peace through sports in Jordan.

PFMP turned to Walid again in November, 2006 to organize a regional level project in Amman, Jordan. This brought together teams from Jordan, Palestine(Gaza), Egypt, Iraq, UNWRA, Yemen and a representative team from Estonia, Europe. This marked a new level of operation for PFMP which had previously worked solely on the local and national levels.  A lot was learned through the Amman project and it marked a transition time for PFMP.

In late 2007 there was a meeting with Walid Abu Shanab , PFMP coordinator for Jordan, Reigo Tonsberg, PFMP coordinator for Estonia , World Association for NGOs Secretary-General Mr Taj Hamad, and PFMP staff Mr. Robin Graham and Mr. David Stewart. Here the educational plans were set in motion for 2008. Out of this meeting emerged the 5 Principles and 10 Values of PFMP which are now known as The Way of Champions.

Since February, Walid has been leading a test program in Jordan which is exploring The Way of Champions. In March approximately 175 football coaches were invited to listen to the basic program idea and were invited to participate.  40 coaches signed up and have been involved since working on the application of principles and values during April, May and June.

In a July visit to the Jordan program, Mr. Robin Graham, PFMP’s Program Director attended one of the evaluation meetings of the coaches, held after an intense practice session on the football pitch at the Sports Ground.

Here is some of the feedback from the coaches at the meeting:

“Everyone knows me. I never liked losing and was always angry if my team would lose. My players copied me, and showed very unsocial behavior. After working with The Way of Champions program I have a more positive way to deal with losing and my players are changing too”.  - Coach Eyad

“When the under 17 team, which is participating in The Way of Champions program, leave the club then the under 18 team is very interested to learn what they are doing. The under 18’s  hang around till the under 17 team returns. The Under 17s then share their experiences and what they have learned. This is an example of giving back, the latest value that we have been studying.”   - Coach Emad (Shabab Al-Ordun club)

‘This summer I am running a sports academy for young kids. Normally after skills training I do not k now what to fill the down time with. Now I have been working with the principles and values I am able to introduce these ideas and this makes the whole academy experience better for everyone”.   - Coach Jamal 

I am very happy with the program. I have started to introduce the values to my athletes and am meeting with success.”  - Mohammad (track and field coach and a guest at the meeting)