“War” for Equality and Real Peace
This project's parent organization is Beit Jala Lions RFC
It operates in and Hungary
It uses Rugby Union
Entered the Sport for Conflict Resolution Award
More about “War” for Equality and Real Peace
“Rugby is a battle just without weapons, but after a hard fought game, enemies become friends.” This is what we believe and try to realize since 2007 when our team was established by local youths from the West Bank. In 2010 a chance appeared to test this saying. Sponsored by the Youth in Action programme and in co-operation with the Anthropolis Foundation we organized a week long international rugby camp (called Global Education Through Sports) in Budapest, Hungary. In this neutral environment we met the Beershive Camels rugby team from Israel.
Beside rugby, the project used different kind of equality building activities such as hiking, common trainings, games and a complete day of intercultural psychological training. We mixed the social elements of rugby with drama pedagogy. The battle between Palestinians and Israelis were channeled into the “moderated drama” of rugby. At the end of the week a rugby 7’s tournament closed the event. After the rugby battles the players engaged again in celebration, social activities such as eating, drinking, dancing, playing games, and share the memories of the greatest moments and tackles of the tournament.