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Sports as a Pathway to Peace: Strengthening Life Skills in Youth
Within the framework of the SALIENT joint project and as a follow-up to the Youth for Peace Workshop, on 15 April 2025, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, in collaboration with the Youth-For-Development Network (YFDN), hosted a transformative Youth for Peace Sports Day.
The event aimed to empower young peace champions from Kingston High School in Jamaica by engaging them in sports and life skills training. Through interactive activities, the initiative ultimately sought to promote a culture of peace, resilience, and cohesion among the youth.
The workshop utilized physical as well as creative activities with peace-building techniques. The students participated in structured games that emphasized anger management strategies and teamwork, helping them connect sports experiences to real-life conflict resolution.
Additional activities incorporated art as a unique medium to explore themes of respect and gender-based violence. Through a combination of football games and reflective discussions, students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of respect and gender equality.
These exercises also encouraged them to brainstorm and reflect on their own attitudes and behaviors, and to actively apply these principles in their daily lives. The overall experience fostered empathy, self-awareness, and a commitment to creating safer, more inclusive communities.
The event concluded with a final reflection, during which students shared their evaluations and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the initiative. The Youth for Peace Sports Day at Kingston High School showcased the role of sports in promoting peace, unity, and positive youth engagement.
Sport can foster rules-based, democratic, and peaceful coexistence.
