Planting the seeds of tolerance in South Africa through soccer
The project is trying to build understanding of refugees in a country where xenophobia has been a recurring problem
![](/thumb1/5024da036.jpg)
South African NGO Lesidi La Batho is helping to build understanding between refugees and the local community. © UNHCR/Linh Dang
PRETORIA, South Africa, 9 August (UNHCR) - An asylum-seeker from Zimbabwe and a South African community outreach worker have united to create understanding in a country where xenophobia has sometimes erupted into violence.
Bradley Shonhai, 23, fled Zimbabwe in 2005 after receiving threats because of his membership in a youth group that supported the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party at the college where was studying electronic repairs.
He now is the coach of an all Zimbabwean football team based in Mabopane township that he founded in 2011. Playing allowed him to escape his money daily worries; his odd jobs fixing electrical appliances were never enough to cover expenses.
Sekia Bokaba, 43, is South African and has been working with the NGO Lesidi La Batho Centre (Light to the People) since 2011, helping youths in the township with skills training. A meeting with UNHCR and Nike got Bokaba's organization interested in launching a sport's peace project.
Bokaba attended the pick-up games the Zimbabweans played to earn a little money and then asked Shonhai if he would join the peace project.
"Bradley was extremely doubtful. He asked me, 'why are you doing this for us?'" said Bokaba. But after he explained the goal of promoting tolerance between South African and refugees, Shonhai agreed to be part of it. Next he had to get support from his own community.
"I had to explain to the political, social and community leaders in the township to get their support. They also questioned the reasons behind the project. I told them: 'Some of them are your neighbours, some rent rooms from you in your yard. Are you going to chase them away?'"
"They had no choice but to accept the project because they realised it was a good thing," said Bokaba.
Funding comes from the Ninemillion.org campaign, which was created in 2006 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft. Since then, numerous partners have supported the campaign. The overall aim is to provide more than nine million refugee youth with improved access to quality education, sport and technology.
Sport can be a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and community networks, and promote ideals of peace, solidarity, non-violence, tolerance and justice. With xenophobia being a major challenge in South Africa, UNHCR, with the support of Ninemillion.org, saw soccer as a means to promote tolerance between refugees and their host communities.
This specific project is being implemented by four NGOs in Gauteng province in South Africa - Xaveri Movement, Daveyton Environmental Youth Counsel, Altus Sport and Lesedi La Batho.
While funding is only available for a few months this year, it has enabled Lesedi Le Batho to begin a process of social cohesion in the community. "We hope to continue on this path and maybe get funding from other sources, said Chrisna Groenewald, Lesidi La Batho's managing director.
Lesedi La Batho hopes to assist the refugee soccer team to become officially registered so they can play other South African teams. On the day of a tournament, the refugee team received a full uniform kit for the first time, including soccer boots.
At the tournament, at the local secondary school, a UNHCR official explained why the refugees are in South Africa. School children nodded as they heard that these people were forced to flee, much like South Africans had to live in exile during the struggle against apartheid.
"If we can plant the seed of tolerance in just one child, then it has all been worth it," said Groenewald. Behind her Bokiba and Shonhai were heading off to organise a medal presentation.
By Tina Ghelli, in Pretoria
Related news and stories
Football brings refugees and host community together in Angola
Goal Click allows displaced people to document the healing power of football
First UNITY Cup shows the power of football to connect refugees and hosts
FC Barcelona and UNHCR kick off partnership with new football jersey in support of refugee children
Football unites in global appeal for the United Nations response to Ukraine
FC Barcelona and UNHCR unite for forcibly displaced children worldwide
Your search for « environmental refugees » matched 2986 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 89 of 112 pages.
-
Guidance Note on Malaria Programmes in Refugee Operations
21 Jun 2022 ... ... environmental control measures. ▪ Site selection and shelter arrangements for refugees should consider environmental factors e.g., avoid swampy areas; shelter design to allow for effective hanging ...... -
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 2022 (Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa)
3 Jan 2023 ... ... effects of climate change, and other environmental challenges; and further recognizing the ... about the continued rising number of refugees and displaced persons in various parts of the ...... -
Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa
12 Feb 1999 ... ... socio-economic and environmental conditions and overstretched national resources, continue to accept the additional burden imposed upon them by increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, ...... -
Summary Record of the 533rd Meeting Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on Friday, 9 October 1998 at 10 a.m
7 Dec 1998 ... ... The political, social and environmental consequences of the successive crises in Africa or the mass influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, for example, had been as ...... -
Report on the work of the Standing Committee
2 Oct 2001 ... ... POLICY • Follow-up to annual theme** • Refugee children • Older refugees • Refugees and environmental issues • Safety and security issues • Economic and social impact of massive ...... -
UNHCR Annual Programme Budget 2004
25 Aug 2003 ... ... AfP 5.4.3 4.5 Promote sound environmental management practices among refugees, in accordance with the Environmental Guidelines (1996) and relevant sector specific guidelines. 4.5.1 Number of training ...... -
Update on Programmes and Funding for 2003
4 Sep 2003 ... ... camp and relocation of refugees to Luwani 300,000 Sierra Leone Influx of Liberian refugees 3,760,926 Sudan Environmental Projects (Refugee camps and refugee-affected areas) 140,000 Tanzania ...... -
Refugees in Africa: The Challenges of Protection and Solutions
1 Dec 2004 ... ... individuals working with refugees; ● The use of environmental guards; and ● Providing for status determination and exclusion from the benefits of the 1951 Refugee Convention on specified grounds. ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2008-2009 - Chad / Sudan Situation subregional overview
1 Dec 2007 ... ... address the environmental impact of this protracted refugee situation In 2008 and 2009, UNHCR will facilitate, and promote when feasible, the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Egypt, ......