Sadili Oval Sports Academy commemorates Peace One Day

No more fights:Kids make peace on Peace Day

International Day of Peace (Peace One Day) marks a time of unity, harmony and celebrating humanity as a whole. On 21^stSeptember 2016, Sadili Oval Sports Academy through its Court of Dreams and Girl Power Clubs Africa programs joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Peace Day with Jitahidi and Nazarene Primary schools in Nairobi’s Kibera Slums. 

Under the theme “Conflict resolution,” Sadili staff prepared a range of activities for the peace month of September, the main one being a major sports day that was held at Sadili Oval grounds on Saturday, 17^thSeptember. The sports day saw over 60 Girl Power Clubs Africa members from St. Catherine’s and Nazarene Primary Schools and their teachers gather at Sadili grounds to celebrate peace using sports. 

Promoting peace using sports

“We believe in empowering the young generation as catalysts for peace building,” said Kevin, a social educator during a session with Jitahidi Primary School. “Children are the future of humanity, and if we’re ever going to have a peaceful world, we need to be able to have them celebrate peace day”.

The young girls and boys had an opportunity to play, sing and discuss what peace means to them. They freely talked about the times they have been in conflict with their friends and the consequences that followed. This event also provided a platform for friends who had gotten into fights to make up with each other.

Young girls determined to eliminate violence

“Peace starts with you,” said Gloria, a social educator during a session with Nazarene primary pupils. “You need to start by forgiving that friend or teacher of yours who wronged you this morning, or yesterday, or even last week. Don’t forget to also ask for forgiveness from anyone you have wronged. You need to first make peace with your neighbor.”

The International Day of Peace was established by the General Assembly in 1981, which later fixed the day in 2001 to be observed every year on 21^st September as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. 

Sadili Oval sports Academy through its programmes (Court of Dreams and Girl Power) works closely with schools mainly in Kibera to empower the slum children and help make them agents of change.