Sports leaders from Israel with the UK coaching team in Brighton, March 2004.
By Matt Hale. Friday, 09 July 2004.
In March this year the University of Brighton played host to a training week involving thirty Jewish and Arabic municipal community sports leaders from Israel, as part of the Football 4 Peace Project.
In the three years since its inception, the project has aimed to use the power of football to address conflict prevention and co-existence within Israel.
Through soccer coaching and social education, Football 4 Peace brings together young Muslim and Jewish Israelis to promote mutual understanding and friendship across religious and ethnic boundaries.
In preparation for the summer 2004 project, the Jewish and Arabic municipal community sports leaders travelled to the UK, in conjunction with the British Council, to undertake training in football coaching, team-building activities, and learning, communication and life skills.
The FA was delighted to be able to offer its support to the project through a donation of England kit. Head of International Relations Jane Bateman said:
"When football has the opportunity to reunite communities, rebuild self-esteem and effectively be a ‘power for good’, we believe that it should be used to its full potential and were therefore pleased we could help such a valuable initiative".
The main project takes place in Northern Israel from 1 July to 11 July 2004, involving 7 Jewish and 7 Arabic communities, and a total of more than 700 children.