* Initiative comes in collaboration with Qatar Charity and other partners
* SDP initiative to fund projects that use sports as effective tool for humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts in different countries
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has announced the launch of the Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) initiative in collaboration with Qatar Charity (QC) and other partners.
The launch of the initiative aligns with Qatar's annual National Sport Day that occurs on the second Tuesday of February, highlighting the country’s dedication to sports and sports-related activities to promote the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle.
Adding to the dedication to sports and advocating for healthy communities, the SDP initiative will be funding several sports-related projects that use sports as an effective tool for humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts in different countries.
The initiative of QFFD, Qatar Charity and other partners aims to reach more communities to capitalise on the positive values of sports. It also advocates towards community building, personal development and well-being to empower and inspire disadvantaged children and young people as well as leverage the contribution of sports to the Sustainable Development Goals, QFFD has said in a statement.
The field programmes and activities of the initiative, with the support of implementing partners on the ground, aim to enhance life skills, social inclusion and conflict resolution for underprivileged and marginalised groups. Involvement in the sports activities will have psychological and
physical health benefits for participants of the programme in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
HE Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, QFFD director-general, said: “Sports is a powerful tool to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in QFFD’s focal areas education, health and economic development. Sports and play are vital for the holistic development of young people, fostering their physical, social and emotional health, improving learning outcomes and transmitting key values such as teamwork, fair play, respect for others, adherence to rules or how to cope with competition, winning and losing.
"These values are important life and employability skills, and they are highly relevant for the rebuilding of post-conflict societies. Sports encourages healthy lifestyles, physical inactivity being a major risk factor for the most common chronic diseases, and it promotes mental well-being and inclusion for at-risk communities such as refugees or internally displaced people. Sports is a school of life, and we are proud to be a part of this inspiring initiative.”
Yousef Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity, said: “With a track record of 38 years saving lives during crises and developing sustainable solutions to poverty and social inequalities, we have leveraged multiple innovative tools that accelerate and support the effective delivery of humanitarian and
development programmes. Sports is one of the most powerful tools we have found to bring people together across all boundaries for one shared vision. Through the SPD initiative, we want to support a global network of partners and communities to leverage the unique power of sports in contributing to a world where all people enjoy their right to live in peace, security and dignity.”
HE Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, noted: “Generation Amazing (GA) is pleased to support the Sport for Development and Peace Initiative and is privileged to partner with Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity and International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to expand GA’s role in enacting Qatar’s Human and Social Development goals, both nationally and internationally. Through the transformative power of football, we are positively impacting communities, developing young leaders around the world, and ensuring our human and social legacy of the FIFA World Cup continues past 2022.
"Generation Amazing will continue supporting vulnerable and at risk communities through initiatives such as SDP, which highlights the unique value of sports as a tool that can empower communities and achieve Sustainable Development Goals."
“Thanks to the support of QFFD, over the course of the last few months, Save the Dream has been hard at work on the ground in Libya and we have already mobilised both international and local partners to promote reconciliation through sports,” addedMassimiliano Montanari, chief executive officer of ICSS, commenting on the progress of the project.
The launch of the initiative aligns with Qatar's annual National Sport Day that occurs on the second Tuesday of February, highlighting the country’s dedication to sports and sports-related activities to promote the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle.
Adding to the dedication to sports and advocating for healthy communities, the SDP initiative will be funding several sports-related projects that use sports as an effective tool for humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts in different countries.
The initiative of QFFD, Qatar Charity and other partners aims to reach more communities to capitalise on the positive values of sports. It also advocates towards community building, personal development and well-being to empower and inspire disadvantaged children and young people as well as leverage the contribution of sports to the Sustainable Development Goals, QFFD has said in a statement.
The field programmes and activities of the initiative, with the support of implementing partners on the ground, aim to enhance life skills, social inclusion and conflict resolution for underprivileged and marginalised groups. Involvement in the sports activities will have psychological and
physical health benefits for participants of the programme in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
HE Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, QFFD director-general, said: “Sports is a powerful tool to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in QFFD’s focal areas education, health and economic development. Sports and play are vital for the holistic development of young people, fostering their physical, social and emotional health, improving learning outcomes and transmitting key values such as teamwork, fair play, respect for others, adherence to rules or how to cope with competition, winning and losing.
"These values are important life and employability skills, and they are highly relevant for the rebuilding of post-conflict societies. Sports encourages healthy lifestyles, physical inactivity being a major risk factor for the most common chronic diseases, and it promotes mental well-being and inclusion for at-risk communities such as refugees or internally displaced people. Sports is a school of life, and we are proud to be a part of this inspiring initiative.”
Yousef Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity, said: “With a track record of 38 years saving lives during crises and developing sustainable solutions to poverty and social inequalities, we have leveraged multiple innovative tools that accelerate and support the effective delivery of humanitarian and
development programmes. Sports is one of the most powerful tools we have found to bring people together across all boundaries for one shared vision. Through the SPD initiative, we want to support a global network of partners and communities to leverage the unique power of sports in contributing to a world where all people enjoy their right to live in peace, security and dignity.”
HE Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, noted: “Generation Amazing (GA) is pleased to support the Sport for Development and Peace Initiative and is privileged to partner with Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity and International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to expand GA’s role in enacting Qatar’s Human and Social Development goals, both nationally and internationally. Through the transformative power of football, we are positively impacting communities, developing young leaders around the world, and ensuring our human and social legacy of the FIFA World Cup continues past 2022.
"Generation Amazing will continue supporting vulnerable and at risk communities through initiatives such as SDP, which highlights the unique value of sports as a tool that can empower communities and achieve Sustainable Development Goals."
“Thanks to the support of QFFD, over the course of the last few months, Save the Dream has been hard at work on the ground in Libya and we have already mobilised both international and local partners to promote reconciliation through sports,” addedMassimiliano Montanari, chief executive officer of ICSS, commenting on the progress of the project.
