More Than Just a Game
In a country still grappling with the not-so-distant memory of genocide, what may seem like a commonplace activity acquires a new layer of significance.
Indeed, "good sportsmanship" took on a whole new meaning at the "Tolerance Tournament" held recently by Rwandan university students. The competition, which featured basketball and karate teams (presumably not intermixing, though that would make for a fantastic sport), aimed to cultivate a culture of tolerance among the nation's youth:
"Speaking at the function, Fatuma Ndangiza the Executive Secretary of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) stressed that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi happened partly because there was lack of tolerance amongst the people in this country.
‘Where there is no tolerance, there can never be unity and respect for human rights, and I think lack of tolerance partly caused the 1994 Genocide,' said Ndangiza.
She anticipated a better Rwanda if the youth continue thinking more on how the country can develop as opposed to divisionism.
‘Activities like these give me hope more especially when it comes from young people like you, the youth should work harder in order to be able to rewrite the Rwandan history.'
It may seem like a small thing, but sport is frequently used as a means to bridge cultural divides and foster tolerance and reconciliation at the (very) grassroots level. (As a small piece in a multi-layered effort, naturally.) Sustainable peacebuilding, after all, is not purely a matter of ceasefires and unity governments, but can require a thorough transformation of divided societies-it's as much hearts-and-minds as it is demilitarization.
[Photo from gregkendallball's Flickrphoto stream, used under the Creative Commons license.]
Michelle .
has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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