PeacePlayers International
From Hoopedia
PeacePlayers International (PPI) is a non-profit organization which uses the game of basketball to unite and educate children and their communities.
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Goals
PeacePlayers International has four main objectives:
- Bridge social divides
- Develop future leaders
- Educate children to lead healthy, constructive lives
- Build community involvement to ensure long-term sustainability
Background
PeacePlayers International was founded in 2001 on the premise that “children who play together can learn to live together.” PPI effectively blends together proven theories of social modeling, conflict resolution and public diplomacy to operate basketball and life-skills programs in historically divided regions that bring together thousands of children from different religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
The programs attract children to participate in basketball and life-skills activities that enable them to learn leadership skills and how to live as friends and neighbors. A key component to PeacePlayers International's effectiveness is that the programs target children aged 10-14. These are the children old enough to pick up the basics of the sport, but young enough that many prejudices have not yet been cemented. Through the power of sport and education and the strategic integration of public diplomacy, PPI is altering the pattern of preconceived prejudice and equipping children with the skills and education needed to address the serious social and health issues they face.
South Africa
Since inception, PeacePlayers International, South Africa has:
- Taught the game of basketball to over 25,000 children from the city of Durban, its suburbs and its surrounding townships
- Actively involved 7,000 10-14 year old boys and girls from 98 schools who participate in inter-community leagues, life skills clinics, tournaments and clubs
- Trained and employed 100 young South African adults to serve as coaches and youth mentors
- Built 45 outdoor basketball courts each of which is affixed with AIDS awareness message
- Held eight tournaments each involving over 2,000 children who participate on mixed teams
- Developed and implemented a program-wide HIV/AIDS Awareness initiative in partnership with Harvard University's School of Public Health and the University of Natal.
- Become a registered charity in South Africa led by an active board of directors
- Enlisted funding from the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation, The Nelson Mandela's Children Fund, the South African government and several corporate sponsors
Northern Ireland
In August 2002, PeacePlayers International extended its program to Northern Ireland with the mission to use basketball to address sectarianism and foster mutual respect and tolerance among Catholic and Protestant children.
Over the past two years, PPI, Northern Ireland has:
- Coached 12,000 10-14 year old Catholic and Protestant children in integrated settings
- Partnered with Ulster Basketball to established new cross-community basketball clubs in Dungannon, Armagh, Cookstown, Craigavon, New Buildings, Claudy, Limavad and Derry.
- Paired together sixth and seventh grade classes from 100 Catholic and Protestant schools in weekly mixed basketball sessions
- Placed 19 American program directors on the ground to administer program activity and develop local leadership
- Trained 15 local young adults from both communities to be coaches and youth mentors
- Held 8 tournaments involving over 1,750 participants
- Become a registered charity in Northern Ireland with a local board of directors and management committee
- Enlisted funding from local town councils, the Reconciliation Fund, the Ireland Funds and the UK
- On Wednesday July 11, 2007, David Cullen and Trevor Ringland received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2007 ESPY Awards [1]
Middle East
As of December 2005 PeacePlayers International is establishing a year round program in Israel and the West Bank. Over the northern summer of 2005/2006 the program will facilitate positive dialogue and relationships between Israeli and Palestinian youth. The project will be launched with a one week overnight basketball camp in August for 130 Israeli and Palestinian children followed by the establishment of year round twinned basketball clubs in Israel and the West Bank . Partners include the Jerusalem YMCA, Jaffa Arab-Jewish Community Center, and Abu Gosh Community Center. On July 28, 2006, ESPN.com had an article about PeacePlayers International's efforts in the Middle East.
