Ammon News - JORDAN TIMES - AMMAN — From a modest beginning in 2007, to being ranked among the “Top 100 NGOs in the World” this year with over 8,300 volunteer in 46 countries, Generations For Peace (GFP) is moving ahead with its mission.
GFP, which was ranked in the “Top 100 NGOs in the World” by the Global Journal for impact innovation and sustainability, is “a very young organisation” dedicated to sustainable peace building and conflict transformation through sport, arts, advocacy, dialogue and empowerment, according to its founder, HRH Prince Feisal.
“We are still very young. We started focusing very much on the basic camps to begin with, then we saw there was a need to establish the Generations For Peace Institute as an important complement to the work that we are doing here,” the prince told The Jordan Times in an exclusive interview.
He said the institute provides the academic research arm to look at the impact of “what we are doing” and help develop best practices to ensure that GFP continues to make a positive impact, he added.
The institute, which was established in 2010, is leading and supporting collaborative multidisciplinary research, and then sharing knowledge and best practices across all sports for peace and community development.
GFP concluded its Amman Camp 2013 on Sunday with the participation of 70 delegates from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen.
“We had a very interesting camp, which focused on the MENA region with the inclusion of four new countries... Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. I think it is showing that we have an impact across the Arab region and we have a need to believe and work for peace stronger than before,” Prince Feisal said.
The ninth GFP camp, supported by the Norwegian embassy, concluded with a message from the prince during a press conference saying: “Over the last 10 days, you have worked hard.”
“Tomorrow, you will return home armed and ready — for peace building. You are equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to begin to implement your own programmes in your communities, to address local issues of conflict and violence,” he told the delegates.
“You have joined the growing ranks of more than 8,300 trained Generations For Peace volunteers in 50 countries,” the prince added.
The last two GFP international camps were held in Sochi, Russia, and this is the first camp in Jordan since 2010.
“In the last couple of years, we also focused on advanced training, because we recognised that there is a need to enhance the delegates’ capabilities. I think we continue to grow one step at a time in a very balanced format,” the prince said.
“I think there is a positive feedback again. The fact that the International Olympic Committee recognised Generations For Peace, only one of two organisations in the peace development area, is an indication of the impact that we were able to have,” he added.
“It is true some people were sceptical in the past, but when they see the results of what we are able to achieve, we are getting more enthusiasm and more people who want to join and learn the skills to bring peace, tolerance and understanding to reduce the level of violence in their communities.”
Prince Feisal, who is also president of the Jordan Olympic Committee, stressed that “flexibility is the key”.
“We had a lot of success, but we still have a lot of work to do, and what makes Generations For Peace rather unique is really the flexibility in trying to adapt and working with best practices; we are learning what works and what does not,” he noted.
“We are not static. We are not happy with what we have now. That is why we continue to refine and develop the idea more and review what could be done,” the prince said.
“There are many sad stories in the world, and I try my best to sit with delegates because their stories really inspire me.”
“There are so many stories and it is very hard to single one [out], but what really impresses me is [seeing] the enthusiasm and passion in the eyes of delegates.
“At the end of the day, they are going back to change their society. Here, we try to give them advice and guidance, but... it is up to the individual to make a difference,” he added.
For the prince, the dream is becoming a reality but there is still much to be done.
“We are seeing a lot of positive responses; more people are getting interested in our work, and I believe the media is doing an excellent job in spreading the message, but still we need to see more recognition for our programmes by the local media,” he said.
So far, the GFP programmes have touched the lives of more than 213,000 children, youths and adults.
“I don’t think we can ever have too much peace,” Prince Feisal said.
“Peace is something every human being deserves to live in… but this is something that requires work, effort and dedication, and — thank God — we have a great group of volunteers who are willing to make this difference and work hard in their communities in sometimes very challenging circumstances.”
comment replay 