Generations For Peace (GFP) has been awarded additional funding from UNICEF to expand a successful programme engaging volunteer youth leaders to strengthen social cohesion and resilience, and reduce the potential for violence in refugee host communities. 

The programme has seen impressive positive impact in 10 communities over the last year. Building on this success, UNICEF is increasing its support, to expand the programme to 16 communities in 2016. To power the expansion, from 9-14 January, 80 Jordanian and Syrian youth leaders completed six days of intensive training, gaining the capacity and confidence to assess local conflict issues, identify a target group, and design, organize, run, and sustain an ongoing series of activities with youth in their communities.

The youth leaders work in Community Development Centres run by the JOHUD, and Youth Centres run by the Higher Council for Youth, in Ajloun, Amman, Irbid, Karak and Mafraq. The Generations For Peace training helps to empower youth leaders as peer educators, as they learn to design and facilitate activities using a unique conflict transformation curriculum. Following the training this month, Generations For Peace will continue to mentor and support the youth leaders as they organize weekly sessions for youth in their communities. A total of 22 weekly sessions helps to ensure that long-term behaviour change and conflict transformation impacts are secured. To expand the positive impact still further, the youth participants and trained volunteers will also design and conduct local community social cohesion initiatives, reaching an even wider audience with what they have learned.

HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace, thanked UNICEF, noting: “We are grateful for the support of UNICEF and others who see the positive impacts of our work and are helping us to build on our strengths and successes to benefit the most vulnerable communities in Jordan. Our programmes over the past few years have demonstrated the effectiveness of empowering Jordanian and Syrian youth to lead activities in their own communities to break down stereotypes and barriers, build strong friendships with one another, and manage conflicts without violence.”

Robert Jenkins, UNICEF Country Representative for Jordan, said: “UNICEF is proud to increase our support to the ongoing work of Generations For Peace in improving the lives of children and youth affected by the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan. In Jordanian communities hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, youth-led activities that strengthen social cohesion and resilience are critical to ensuring youth can successfully participate and engage in society, and draw upon support networks when facing extreme challenges.”

Omar Alharaki, a volunteer who participated in the training, said: “I have to be an active member in this community; whatever I can offer, I will offer. We have to make sure that our community is a safe place, and this is why I volunteer. I also volunteer so I that can contribute to building a socially conscious generation. Even if we go back to Syria, we will have concepts and principles to take with us, and we will work hard to pass them on from generation to generation.” 

Since the conflict in Syria began, more than 633,000 Syrians have registered as refugees in  neighbouring Jordan (UNHCR 2015), 52% of whom are youth under the age of 18, and with 82% residing in host communities rather than refugee camps. 

The work of Generations For Peace towards improving social cohesion among Jordanian and Syrian youth in host communities is also supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Inti Raymi Fund, Samsung, Orange, and DHL. 

Source: Generations For Peace

DHL Express, Jordan has extended its support for Generations For Peace to increase the sustainability and impact of the Jordan Schools Programme.

The two organisations share an understanding of the fundamental importance of education, youth leadership and community empowerment. Generations For Peace focuses on empowering teachers and students to address local issues of conflict within schools, which compliments and aligns with DHL’s own “Go Teach” corporate social responsibility goals. 

 “Whilst hailing from different enterprise sectors, we share the common objectives and values that true partnership requires; we both believe that in working together we can achieve more positive impact,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace.

To mark this important milestone in the partnership, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein attended a special DHL event on 26 May celebrating Jordan Independence Day, in the presence of Mr Mahmoud Haj Hussein and his fellow DHL Express senior management team.

“Ours is a relationship that has been nurtured over three years and we are delighted to be able to further build on our commitment to Generations For Peace,” said Mahmoud Haj Hussein, Country Manager for DHL Express Jordan.

“At the heart of our highly valued collaboration is the promise that we are both dedicated to delivering excellence, a brighter future and significant improvements to many people’s lives.”

DHL will continue to support global shipments to Generations For Peace programmes across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed to work Generations For Peace in a partnership that will boost the impact and sustainability of the NGO’s Jordan Schools Programme, it was announced on Monday. 

The partnership will benefit 5,000 young people living in vulnerable refugee host communities in Jordan, Generations for Peace said. 

Population pressures and tensions are growing in schools in Jordan’s refugee host communities, due to the intake of a high number of Syrian refugees. The programme focuses on reducing violence and the potential for violence in these schools through sports and art leadership projects.

“This partnership will provide significant support for our Generations For Peace programmes in Jordan at a time when we must continue to reduce the tension and risk of violence among children and young people in schools and communities most in need,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace.

Through the partnership, Generations For Peace Clubs will be created in 12 schools in host communities across Jordan. 

Generations For Peace will select and train 100 students who demonstrate commitment and leadership, and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to begin facilitating sport and art for peace activities in their schools. These young people will also lead on initiatives in their surrounding community that are designed to strengthen social cohesion, resilience and social capital.   

“We are delighted to pledge our commitment to this important programme,” said Didier Reynders, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs.

“Our recent visit to see the work of Generations For Peace in Za’atari Village host community demonstrated the power of sport and its ability to break down stereotypes and bring young people from Jordan and Syria together.”

Belgium’s Ambassador to Jordan, Thomas Baekelandt, said “These young people have enormous potential and we are delighted to support them in their role as change-makers who can ensure a brighter future for their communities.”

Generations For Peace and Orange Jordan on Tuesday announced a new phase in their partnership, which will benefit Generations For Peace programmes in schools and community centres across Jordan. 

Under the new partnership, Orange Jordan will provide direct and in-kind support for the Jordan Schools Programme, which addresses violence in schools, and the Social Cohesion Programme, which builds “conflict transformation skills” at community level.

Orange Jordan will also continue to support the telecommunications needs of GFP’s Amman-based headquarters.

“Both Orange Jordan and Generations For Peace share the same goal: to change lives by connecting people and improving communications,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, founder and chairman of Generations For Peace.

“This is at the heart of Orange Jordan’s service offering to businesses and communities; it is also at the heart of GFP’s work to transform conflict and reduce violence through dialogue in communities around the world. 

“We are proud to call Orange Jordan our exclusive telecoms partner for our programmes in Jordan.”

The “in-kind” support includes marketing activities. The two organisations will work together to awareness and support amongst Orange Jordan customers for Generations For Peace programmes. 

Programme participants will have opportunities to engage in Orange Foundation vocational skills training, while Orange Jordan employees will also be able to participate in Generations For Peace-led volunteer activities in communities. 

The new agreement builds on the successful partnership between Generations For Peace and Orange Jordan which started in 2012.

“We are thrilled to be able to extend our partnership with Generations For Peace, and demonstrate our commitment to improving local communities in Jordan,” said Jean-Francois Thomas, Group CEO of Orange Jordan.

“GFP’s mission aligns directly with our corporate social responsibility to serve our customers and their wider communities.”

I bring you greetings from my home country of Jordan; a land of peace; a country that serves as a bridge between cultures; and a mediator in times of conflict; a country that is at the crossroads of all continents and civilizations.

A country that believes in the pursuit of values, such as integrity, honesty and respect.

We are in a crucial time for football. Both inside and outside the football family, people have expressed concern about the way FIFA is run.

And there are some deep rooted issues that we as a family must unite to confront together.

Around the world there is a real appetite for change, new leadership, better support to National Associations, meaningful investment in football development, and for FIFA to be a genuine service organisation.

This movement calls for a better FIFA, one based on respect and dignity, admired by our stakeholders, and governed with a spirit of inclusion and transparency.

For the past 16 years as President of a developing FA I understand the many challenges associated with that job. I am also proud to have been elected as a FIFA Vice President for Asia and have always tried to bring the interests and needs of National Associations to the FIFA Executive Committee.

I envisage a FIFA that empowers its Member Associations, while always maintaining the highest standards of good governance.

We need a change of culture and a departure from FIFA’s authoritarian approach to strategy.

Strategic direction must come from the Confederations and Member Associations so that their interests become THE priority in the future.

So, this election is not simply about choosing a person you believe in, it is about choosing a future for football and for FIFA, your FIFA.

FIFA, from a commercial perspective, has in many ways been riding the wave of European football’s success which has also helped directly the success of the FIFA World Cup.

And while the popularity of the World Cup has soared, the image of the organisation has sadly declined.

Imagine a rejuvenated FIFA, with its own reputation rebuilt and restored, coupled with the love of football, the only possible outcome will be explosive commercial growth far exceeding what we see now.

Ongoing and new commercial success coupled with the excess funds from our reserves can combine to create the right formula we need for FIFA’s development programmes.

The aim has to be to expand the game to new markets and territories, and give more countries a chance to produce new talent and achieve success at international level, both youth and senior level and in both men’s and women’s football. And allow Member Associations to aspire to host these events and receive the necessary support.

Many FAs around the world still do not have their basic needs met such as kits, pitches and infrastructure while others have a different pressure of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Whatever the case, the answer can only lie in harnessing the creative power and minds across FIFA’s Member Associations to give us the solutions to fit their specific needs, on a case by case basis.

And we need to expand financial support to the Member Associations because the more sustainable they are, the better it is for football and for FIFA.

I see a new era where development is a fundamental right of Member Associations… not a gift from FIFA.

There is also a human dimension here. I want to see new development partnerships in coaching, in governance and in player talent. I would like to see scholarship programmes to link coaches, officials and players around the world to benefit all our Member Associations.

I also believe that football has to use its power in the field of social responsibility to help the wider society and this is something very dear to my heart.

We must preserve the integrity of the competition, ensure that the highest standard of football is played at the game’s global flagship event and that neither format nor slots become subject to political whim and manoeuvring.

Too often we see FAs deliberately marginalised and played off against each other.

I am proud to be endorsed by Member Associations from three different Confederations. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of UEFA who had the courage to grant me their support, Belarus, England, Georgia, and Malta.

FIFA should take great pride in what European football has given the world. You have set the highest standards in all that you do, both on and off the field, and the whole world watches, including my children, when the great dramas of European football play out.

Over the next two months it is essential that together we focus on the opportunity for real change and genuine reform.

This is a crossroads which could set FIFA on a new and positive path. That is the choice that the football family faces on May 29th.

This is an edited transcript of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s address to the UEFA Congress

Generations For Peace, a charity that uses sport to promote peace, has been ranked 32nd in the “Top 500 NGOs” list for 2015. 

The NGO, founded by IOC member for Jordan Prince Feisal Al Hussein, has climbed 62 places since the last ranking in 2014, making it the second fastest riser on the 2015 list. 

The ranking, published by third sector media company Global Geneva, also places Generations For Peace second highest of any peace-building charity on the list.

NGOs are evaluated on their innovation, impact and sustainability. 

“Generations For Peace has walked the walk in a very, very short period of time. We were just so impressed,” said Jean-Christophe Nothias, Editor of the ‘Top 500 NGOs’ list.

“Many NGOs previously ranked have gone down the ladder. Generations For Peace has moved up, from #94 to #32; the second-biggest progress of all. 

“This ranking recognises Generations For Peace’s management, relative size, expansion and impact, and the overall philosophy of the very local anchoring approach.”

HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace said “I am extremely proud that the impact of our programmes in Jordan and around the world is receiving such global recognition. 

“This outstanding ranking has been achieved through the extraordinary dedication of our Generations For Peace volunteers, inspiring and leading change through their efforts to promote peace, tolerance and respect in their own communities. And their success is shared by all our partners who are supporting us every step of the way.”

Generation For Peace also cited its strong relationships with key partners including the Olympic Movement, United Nations agencies (UNICEF and UNESCO), governmental donors including the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and USAID as well as commercial partners like Samsung as a key factor in achieving this ranking.

Since its launch in 2007, Generations For Peace has trained and mentored more than 8,500 volunteer leaders of youth in 50 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, with programmes impacting more than 216,000 children, youth and adults. 

 “Less than eight years after being founded, it is moments like this which help us to recognise how far Generations For Peace has come,” said Sarah Kabbani, Co-Founder and President of Generations For Peace.

“This recognition motivates us all – our staff, our volunteers and our partners – to build on our success and expand our reach to more communities, in response to growing global demand for our programmes.”

[Source: Jordan Olympic Committee] A major step in FIBA’s efforts to advance its safeguarding and protection approach has been reached today, when the FIBA Safeguarding Council met for a final review of the new Safeguarding Policy. Having gone through extensive reviews by the Council members as well as relevant FIBA internal structures, the draft Policy will be presented for approval at the forthcoming meeting of the FIBA Central Board.

Discussing the significance of this first step, the Council members reiterated the importance this Policy will have in ensuring basketball is being accessed by anyone who wants to take part and enjoy the game: in a fair and equitable safe space, free from all forms of harm and abuse, regardless of playing level.

The Council, the majority of which is composed of independent members, has also looked at the steps that will follow Policy’s adoption later this year. HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Council’s Founding Chairman, said: “FIBA moved fast to finalise its Safeguarding Policy, and is now ready to engage with its stakeholders, promote its safeguarding efforts, and contextualise and adjust practices that will protect not only vulnerable but all players and basketball participants, regardless of who or where they are. It is paramount for our Olympic and sport Movement to adopt such policies and standards, to follow FIBA and other stakeholders in making sure young people in particular are able to thrive while playing safe sport”.

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis reiterated: “I have been delighted to welcome in the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball this important meeting of FIBA Safeguarding Council. We thank HRH Prince Feisal for leadership and members of this independent Council for their commitment, as we take full advantage of their analysis and recommendations”.

The six additional members of the Safeguarding Council include Slovakia's four-time Olympian Danka Bartekova, FIBA Americas President Carol Callan, international basketball star Astou Ndour-Fall, Romanian Basketball Federation President and FIBA Executive Committee Member Carmen Tocala, award-winning journalist Alan Abrahamson and FIBA Chief Operating Officer Patrick Mariller.

[Source: Jordan Olympic Committee] The Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) and its National Federations, the leading organisations committed to the development and growth of sport in the Kingdom, hosted the Tokyo 2020 Western Asia Table Tennis qualifier on 24-26 February, followed by the Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier (3-11 March) and the Tokyo 2020 Asian taekwondo qualifier (10-12 April).

“We are honoured and excited to be welcoming hundreds of the world’s best athletes to Jordan over the next few months. Hosting a series of Tokyo 2020 qualifying events not only underlines Jordan’s sporting ambitions, it also demonstrates that the Kingdom has the experience to host world-class international sports events,” said Nasser Majali, Secretary General of the JOC and CEO of the Local Organising Committee for the Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier.

“On behalf of the Jordan Olympic Committee, I would like to wish all athletes, coaches and officials travelling to Amman the very best of luck in their events.”

By hosting these major Olympic qualifiers, the JOC continues to inspire the next young generation of athletes at grassroots and elite levels, which is a key pillar of Jordan’s National Strategy for Sport.

The events will see up to 500 athletes from over 45 countries travel to Jordan’s capital.

[Source: Jordan Olympic Committee] A host of major local and international sponsors have stepped into the ring to support the Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier in Amman, Jordan, from 3-11 March 2020.

Following the Boxing Task Force’s (BTF) announcement that Jordan would host the prestigious Olympic qualifier, work has continued around the clock to prepare a world-class venue in the capital’s Prince Hamzah Hall at Al Hussein Youth City.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) will be supported by several major companies, including Worldwide Olympic Partner Coca-Cola, Societe Generale De Banque Jordan - SGBJ, Zain Jordan, Buffalo Wings and Rings, Taishan and Aramex.

“We have been short on time but huge on effort to ensure that this event meets the extremely high standards of the Olympic family,” said Nasser Majali, Secretary General of the Jordan Olympic Committee and CEO of the LOC.

“We are pleased with our progress and look forward to welcoming our friends from around the world to Amman over the coming days.

“The support that we have received from the business community has been particularly heartening and provides us with the helping hand required to host a world-class event.”

The qualifier is expected to attract the Asian and Oceania best boxers from 40 countries competing for 41 men’s qualifying spots in 8 weight divisions and 22 female qualifying spots in 5 weight divisions for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) has selected the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) to host the Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier in Amman, Jordan, from 3-11 March 2020.

The event was due to place in Wuhan on those dates but was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the JOC said it “promises to provide a warm welcome and unforgettable experience for all athletes travelling to Amman for the all-important Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier. As the leading organisation for sport in the Kingdom, hosting this major international sporting event underlines the JOC’s commitment to delivering world-class events and empowering all Jordanians to participate in sport.”

Jordan Olympic Committee President HRH Prince Feisal said: “It is an honour for Jordan, the Jordan Olympic Committee and the city of Amman to have been selected to host the Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier. We are very proud that the BTF has recognised Amman as a city capable of hosting an international event of this magnitude at short notice and we look forward to repaying their trust by delivering a successful event.

“Jordan has a proven track record for hosting world-class international sporting events and this is another ideal opportunity to introduce more sport to tens of thousands of young Jordanians throughout the Kingdom.”

In recent years, Jordan has hosted the IWWF Jordan Ayla Cable Wakeboard World Cup 2018, the 14th Arab Junior Volleyball Championships in 2017 and the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, which saw more than 100,000 fans and 32 teams travel to Amman.

The BTF was created by the IOC Executive Board (EB) in June 2019. This followed a decision by the IOC Session to keep boxing on the sports programme for Tokyo 2020, but to suspend IOC recognition of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) due to concerns over finance, governance, ethics and refereeing and judging.

The IOC EB gave the Boxing Task Force the mandate to organise and deliver the five qualification events for boxing and the Olympic boxing competition in Tokyo, and to develop a Tokyo 2020 qualification system for boxing.

The Tokyo 2020 Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier will take place at the Prince Hamza Arena, Al-Hussein Youth City, Amman, Jordan.