We recognise that strong, connected, and peaceful communities are essential for building a just and sustainable world. While our core focus is on health, education, and employment, we pursue a holistic approach, taking into account the social environments of the project participants to ensure comprehensive, effective, and sustainable solutions.

“Sharing experiences after a game gives me courage and hope. Some girls have the same problems as I have. I make friends from other parts of the camps, and I learn from others.”

J. Annete, 17 years old, lives in a refugee settlement in South Sudan. She finds strength and sense of belonging through sport and play, despite facing challenges such as poverty, her mother’s illness and the absence of her father.

What is SA4D doing?

By bringing people together and encouraging mutual support, we are dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities. We foster peaceful coexistence, creating safe spaces where individuals can live in harmony and respect each other’s differences. We work to overcome barriers and address challenges faced by marginalised groups, such as refugees or people with a migration background, fostering understanding, and promoting social cohesion.

How is SA4D doing this?

Sport and play offer a safe and positive environment to bring together children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds. In collaboration with our implementing partners, we use sport and play-based activities to strengthen social cohesion within communities, building bridges of understanding and empathy that can help overcome potential divisions.

This is achieved through the holistic nature of SA4D projects, which cover multiple focus areas to create more thorough and lasting solutions. In combination with activities that support psychosocial health, individuals acquire coping strategies that help them process their (sometimes traumatising) experiences, master their everyday challenges and regain self-confidence; at the same time, participants get to know each other better, they can relate and create social ties and friendships. Sharing such experiences with people from different walks of life is key to forming supportive and trustful networks, restoring a climate of peace and creating inclusive communities. These relationships can also support better education and employment outcomes, generating more positive classroom dynamics and strengthening professional networks. SA4D also strongly encourages women to not only participate but take leading roles within their communities.

Why is SA4D doing this?

We consider diversity to be enriching for all societies, however it can also lead to tensions and conflicts. Differences in culture, religion, language, and socioeconomic status can cause misunderstandings and divides, particularly if populations must share limited resources and live in close proximity. To mitigate these challenges, it is crucial to prioritise social cohesion. By fostering understanding, empathy, and respect among diverse groups, we can create stronger, more resilient communities that are better equipped to collaborate in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.