BBC Arabic visits CCPA Lebanon

BBC Arabic visited the Open Fun Football Festival in Jabal Mohsen, Tripoli, that took place on November 14, 2010.

BBC wrote the following on the website (translated from Arabic): http://www.bbc.co.uk/arabic/middleeast/2010/11/101115_lebanon_conflicts_sport...

"The area of Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli seems very calm and quiet contrary to all the armed clashes that have occured between this area and the neighboring Bab el-Tebbaneh - especially in 2008. Now, the area is experincing monthly sports activities like football and basketball and the goal is to form friendships between children from Jebel Mohsen, where the majority is Alawites and supports Hezbollah and their allies, while the inhabitants from Bab el-Tebbaneh are Sunnites and follow the March 14.

This important statement is always repeated is "Sport is a way to draw a future without conflicts". About that, Coach Wassim al-Omar from Bab el-Tebbaneh says; "I have a popular football club, and we have an official club also, but when we didn't get any attention from sport officials, the only thing left for us was to carry arms. We and the people from Jebel Mohsen were shooting at each other, but today we realize that we are one family and we shouldn't have conflicts between each other".
Coach Ali Sleiman from Jebel Mohsen agrees with Wassim, and says; "The presence of these children is a reply to all the political differences and shows that Lebanon should be a safe country for everyone".
These activities are organized by CCPA, a Danish association branched in Lebanon, and they mix members from each team with the other in order to build friendship between children with different religious views.

President of CCPA Lebanon, Mazen Ramadan says; "We don't differentiate between boys and girls aging from 8 to 14 and if we get children to play football and have it as a hobby, we will be helping them physically and mentally in addition to the social advantages that the game creates".
The games are arranged on 12 sections in the field where religious views and differences are absent and joy is the common thing between the participants. The games also give the children the chance not to repeat the same mistakes their parents did.
Ahmad Ferdos, president of the popular clubs in North Lebanon, confirms this by saying "This gathering is a proof that the parents are sending their children to say that they were forced to participate in the war".
The games are not restricted to Lebanese children only, but also include Palestinian children from Nahr el-Bared Camp who find comfort and ways to forget the social problems and the difficulties of living in houses made of iron.
Leaders of the project confirm that they are supported by the parents, and their message is loud and clear; "Bring footballs instead of bombs, and pen instead of gun".

www.ccpa.dk

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Lebanon
• Libanon
• Tripoli
• Football
• CCPA
• Cross
• Cultures
• Conflict
• Peace