Kenya - In a growing grassroots movement for peace following the disputed 2007 Kenya presidential election, YFWP-Kenya co-sponsored a soccer tournament and service initiative in the western Matunda area that brought together some 70,000 people under the banner “Come Together to Reason Together.”

Matunda is a cosmopolitan district with a population of more than 200,000, representing all tribes in Kenya. Due to strong tribal attachments, the region was particularly unsettled by the violence, economic disruption, and political controversies that attended the divisive election.

The tournament and service work follows the March 2009 YFWP International Young Leaders Summit at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, which drew young men and women from 25 African nations to advance strategies for peace and development on the continent. Adopting many of the summit’s goals, the tournament brought young people from across the country, who mingled with celebrities in a colorful day dedicated to community, music, sports, and entrepreneurship.

Tournament organizer Sadat Muhindi, a Young Ambassador for Peace who lives in Matunda, organized this event to further the healing process and build a cohesive partnership among the youth in the area, as well as to initiate sustainable economic projects. The results far exceeded his expectations. “With all ages present,” he said, “this was indeed a resounding success.”

“Soccer and the clean-up project were ideal for community building,” added YFWP-Kenya President Vincent Rapando. “Through sports we can realize the potential of youth talents, skills development, and mentorship.”

The tournament won the support of key young leaders like Humphrey Kayange, the Kenya Sevens Rugby team captain who comes from the Matunda area, and Eric Marende, son of the National Assembly Speaker. “We are glad to meet one of our sons [Kayange] who is now a celebrity ‘one to one,’ and many others who are pursuing the course for peace,” said one Matunda tribal leader. 

Kayange, a Young Ambassador for Peace, said he intended to launch rugby mentorship clinics in slum areas across the country wide “to give inspiration and hope to upcoming youth and combat HIV/AIDS infections.” Marende added that he was “proud to be associated with the program and plan to carry the same event to my home area with focus on environmental issues, youth empowerment, and sports.”

In addition to the tournament, the day’s events included a market clean-up and a collection for orphanages. YFWP presented the peace trophy to the tournament winners, with 18 youth leaders in the area awarded Young Ambassador for Peace certificates.

“Fundamentally, we use sports to break barriers and bring about healing,” Rapando concluded. “We intend to follow-up with the training programs and encourage peace and reconciliation wherever there is division.”

This report was filed by the Youth Federation for World Peace, a Global Peace Festival partnering organization.