2007 GLOBAL PEACE GAMES for CHILDREN and YOUTH

MOZAMBIQUE

In Mozambique, to celebrate the Global Peace Games, Global Peace Day festivals were held during the last week of September and the first week of October. The festivals marked the culmination of a series of organized play days in celebration of world peace, and were organized and led by Right To Play trained Coaches from Partner Organizations. In Mozambique, the festivals were celebrated through sport and play which are increasingly being recognized as essential ingredients to rebuilding a culture of friendliness, cultural understanding and national peace. As part of the festivals, more than 1,400 children and 148 Coaches participated (refer to the Table below for details). The Government Ministries were represented by the Provincial and District Directorates of Education and Culture, Youth and Sport and Health. Additional Partner Organizations in included Chicumbane Nucleo, Chonguene Nucleo, Ndambine 2000, Núcleo de Formadores Desporto e Saúde (NFDS) and Jovens de Inhaca Ligados ao Desporto, Educação e Saúde (JILDES).

To celebrate the Global Peace Day festivals, children were assembled and grouped according to their age groups and led into the play field divided into various play stations each one with a different play activity. Each station had an allocation of 15 minutes: 3 minutes were for an initial discussion; 9 minutes for the game; and, the remaining 3 minutes for a final discussion.

The games that were played included both traditional and local games, and Right To Play Red Ball Child Play Blue Ball games (e.g., games that focus on peace and social cooperation). Additionally, male and female football tournaments involving 12 teams (4 female and 8 male) were arranged by the Coaches.

Further, there were play stations where children could be counted before they were asked to sign their names and write their messages on the Manifesto, which took the shape of a 1.5 meter by 2.5 meter white cloth. This is where the children first were explained the importance of the day, repeated the Manifesto and chanted the slogan selected by the Partner Organizations which read: "Paz para o Desenvolvimento da Criança," or "Peace for Child Development". Approximately 500 children signed their names to the Manifesto for a Culture of Peace.

Summary:

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