Ping Pong Paix in Burundi and Congo
Burundi and Congo
The project took place in four locations. The locations involved were impoverished villages where children have a high risk of being recruited as soldiers besides that there were tribal conflicts among them. Weekly table tennis classes were conducted in order to spread a strong message of peace and tolerance
To provide sport opportunities and education of values through sport for children from impoverished neighbourhoods
To support the demobilization of child soldiers
To bring together children from different villages with tribal and ethnical conflicts
Peace and Sport, German Table Tennis Federation, German Olympic Committee, Butterfly, Burundi and Congo DR Table Tennis Federations
Context:
In Burundi and in Congo, especially in these four villages, there are tribal conflicts between the population and it represents a high risk of children being recruited as soldiers. When it happens, children definitely stop going to school and participating in physical activities and it causes a confinement within the notion of violence. It is really important to reintroduce children into a virtuous circle represented by the education around the notions of tolerance and peace
Project Content:
An ITTF expert conducted a Coaching Course in December 2011 where people from the Burundi National Federation and the coordinators of NGOs in each of the 4 villages attended.
The following week Ping Pong Paix was launched in the villages, a former World Champion, Peter Karlsson, attended as a role model and played with the children. On the last day, there was a symbolic training camp bringing the kids from the 4 villages together. Afterwards the coaches from the NGOs continue to deliver weekly table tennis classes with a strong message of peace and tolerance.
In 2012, one boy and one girl from each village were invited to attend the ITTF World Championshipsheld in Germany. They took part of structured sport and cultural activities with local people and also met Table Tennis superstars. Their message was to be a symbol of peace for the people attending but also for those living on their villages.
Objectives:
Make children learning about the notions of tolerance and peace, offering them weekly table tennis classes and participating in the ITTF World Championships (2012) in Germany
Impacts and results:
In 2012, one boy and one girl from each village were invited to attend the ITTF World Championships held in Germany. They took part of structured sport and cultural activities with local people and also met Table Tennis superstars. Their message was to be a symbol of peace for the people attending but also for those living on their villages
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