Playing For Peace

Secondary school children from across Sussex and Kent joined international coaches from around the world for a festival for peace.

They joined the University of Brighton’s pioneering Football 4 Peace (F4P) programme to celebrate World Peace Day which took place on 20 September.

Children took part in events and activities within their schools and at the University’s Falmer campus. Coaches from Colombia, Mexico, USA, Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Ivory Coast and Nigeria joined an international training event run by F4P staff which culminated in the Festival at Falmer.

Along with University Sports Development Masters Degree students and undergraduate physical education students, children practiced the methodology and curriculum through a series of football and rugby-related activities specifically designed to promote the values of trust, respect, responsibility, equity and inclusion.

The University’s Dr Tom Carter, Director of F4P International, said: “It was wonderful to have such an eclectic mix of coaches from around the world including F4P partners Fundacion Buen Punto from Columbia.

“They all worked really hard throughout the week and were able to put theory into practice with the children. The cross-community relationships between University students and coaches from around the world has really enhanced the learning experience for these local secondary school children and has helped promote an understanding of the curriculum and methodology that underpins much of what Football 4 Peace has developed over the past eighteen years.”

The University’s Dr Gary Stidder, co-founder and Deputy Director of F4P International, said: “The Festival was the pinnacle of what has been an amazing week-long training event. Rather than using the terms tournament or competition, Football 4 Peace refers to festivals or celebrations as the structure of the event is very different to traditional types of sporting occasions.

“Each team plays the same number of games, children make their own substitutions, referee their own games and award each of their opposing team with fair play points. The eventful winner is the team with the most fair play points rather than the number of games won.”

Find out more about Football for Peace