The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan, earlier this week, launched a nationwide campaign in the Eastern Equatoria State capital, Torit, that uses football to promote unity, peace, and hope among young people in South Sudan.
In a press statement titled Football unites, where fighting divides, extended to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Dutch Ambassador Paul Tholen said that football unites both South Sudan and the Netherlands, which are football-loving nations with a strong football culture.
“We bring youth with different backgrounds together, because we believe in the youth as a powerful driver for a peaceful future in South Sudan. We launched this campaign because football can be a unifying and it shows that peace is a choice,” he stated. “Football promotes tolerance and respect, and encourages social inclusion. Football contributes to peace. This week, we have shown that football unites people in South Sudan. We are all brothers and sisters, and everyone wants the fighting to stop and to start living together peacefully.”
The statement said that through sport, the embassy sees an opportunity to connect with young people and convey a hopeful message for the future.
“Almost everyone in South Sudan is tired of conflict and fighting. Football contributes to peace,” the statement reads in part. “This campaign does not take sides and does not promote any political agenda. Its sole purpose is to bring young people together and to highlight the unifying power of sport, especially in times of tension and fighting.”
“The Embassy believes in the youth, both young men as well as strong young women, as the future of South Sudan and in their ability to shape a more peaceful and united society,” the statement added.
As part of the campaign, the Embassy said it is distributing 700 orange footballs across South Sudan and organizing three football masterclasses in Torit, Juba, and Bentiu.
“This is done together with the captains of the national football teams. Esther Roba for the women’s team and Atir Thomas for the Bright Stars men’s team,” the statement said. “Altogether, more than 4000 young men and women from different backgrounds and communities become ambassadors of peace.”
On Wednesday, Amb. Tholen was in Torit, where boys and girls from different groups and communities came together for a football masterclass.
“It was a morning full of sports, laughter, and companionship. By bringing youth together, we have shown what is possible when differences are put aside. That is something politicians can learn from these young boys and girls,” the embassy said. “Through these activities, the Embassy aims to promote a powerful message: ‘Football unites where fighting divides.’ This message underlines our belief that sport can bring people together across differences.”
“With this initiative, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands hopes to leave behind a positive memory, reinforce bonds between our countries, and contribute, in a modest but meaningful way, to a more peaceful future for South Sudan,” the statement concluded.
The next event of the campaign is in Juba on 20 Friday February.