Doha, 14 July 2021 - Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the International Centre for Sport Security's (ICSS) Save the Dream have signed a grant agreement, aimed at empowering youth and promoting peace and development in Libya through sport. The signing took place in a virtual ceremony.
The joint project will serve as an in-depth study to assess the situation of the Libyan youth, their aspiration, and their potential role in post-conflict reconstruction as agents of positive change.
The project also aims to capitalise on the potential of sport as a tool to facilitate skills development, re-integration in post conflict situations and social cohesion for youth and children.
Acknowledging that sporting activities can present opportunities for promoting social cohesion and harmony, Qatar Fund is now increasingly advocating for the recognition and use of sports as an effective tool in humanitarian, development, and peace building efforts.
The new initiative comes within the ongoing partnership between QFFD and Save the Dream, a global nonprofit Movement of organisations, people and athletes who believe in the power of sport to build more fair and inclusive societies.
The strategic collaboration which has started in 2018 through which a joint initiative on Sport for Development and Peace in Darfur, Sudan was implemented whereby several activities and workshops were held in rural areas to support Internally Displaced Persons and host communities, implemented by Qatar Charity.
The agreement reaffirms Qatar's ongoing efforts in conflict resolution and peacebuilding around the world and highlights its role to enhance the peacekeeping process.
Commenting on the occasion, Deputy Director General of Strategic Planning in QFFD Ali al-Dabbagh said that "it is a top priority for us to create an enabling environment that supports children's wellbeing and provides opportunities for a better future. Together, we can build healthy new generations that can contribute to a large spectrum of the community's development goals."
Meanwhile, CEO of ICSS and Save the Dream Massimiliano Montanari said: "We are both proud and honoured to have been selected by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) to initiate a project which utilises the power of sport to bring about positive changes in the lives of youth and children in Libya."
Within the framework of our Save the Dream initiative and building on our previous experience acquired in the Mediterranean Basin, we will undertake an in-depth needs assessment in the coming weeks, particularly focusing on sports in schools and more in general at the grassroots level.
