Program areas at PPI
United states: in 2017, Peaceplayers partnered with nike to bring programming to the united states. In the u.s., historical divides driven by race and geography have created an inequitable society. Peaceplayers is working to develop a network of young leaders who come together across community divides and become catalysts in building a more peaceful and equitable society. Friendship games: the friendship games is an event bringing together participants from across our global movement for a week of basketball, leadership, and cultural exchange. After nearly 20 years successfully bridging divides and developing leaders in conflict regions around the world, Peaceplayers was thrilled to launch its first global initiative, the Peaceplayers friendships games. The program, generously co-founded by ed and penelope peskowitz in 2019, connects and mobilizes Peaceplayers youth leaders from our five International sites around the globe for a joint program of basketball, leadership training and cultural exchange. The friendship games includes year-round local activities and an annual global convening that brings together some 150 participants, ages 13-16, from the middle east, south africa, northern ireland, cyprus and the united states as well as 100 additional International stakeholders.leadership academy: for the past 20 years, Peaceplayers has reached thousands of youth around the world. Now is the time to deepen our investment in these young leaders as they go out into the world as Peaceplayers alumni. Through the leadership academy, set to launch in september of 2022, we will invest in our alumni's futures: their interests, their skills their careers. And they will emerge with the skills and opportunities to make real and lasting changes for greater peace and equity where they work and where they live. The sport and peace collective: the sport and peace collective (spc), formally the sport and peace innovation network, is a coalition of organizations that leverage sport as a tool for social change, empowering young people, and helping communities overcome cycles of conflict and alienation. Through spc, Peaceplayers will identify the latest, game-changing and innovative ideas from around the world, providing guidance and creating connections to assist organizations and individuals in reaching their full potential.
In northern ireland, Peaceplayers uses sport, in particular the game of basketball, to create opportunities for young leaders to promote respect and mutual understanding between the historically divided community of northern ireland.
In the middle east, Peaceplayers offers youth a safe space to challenge prevailing hostilities, build friendships across conflict lines, and serve as leaders and advocates for peace in their communities.
Cyprus: as the only year-round bicommunal youth sports organization on the island, Peaceplayers cyprus brings together greek-cypriot and turkish-cypriot youth to play, learn, and build meaningful friendships leaving behind generations of mistrust for a future of peace and unity.
In south africa, Peaceplayers engages children and youth from different ethnic groups to participate in impactful and long-term skills through basketball programs, by providing access to shared spaces to collaborate, develop leadership skills and friendships.