International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Every year, April 6 marks International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Today, we’re reminded that sport is more than a game. It is a space for healing, connection, and possibility. But for many young people across the Middle East, even that space is out of reach.

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2026: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers

No Safe Place to Play

In the midst and aftermath of the recent wars in Palestine and Lebanon, young people are often the most affected, facing great risks of being left behind and cut off from education and economic opportunity. The situation is made worse by a lack of basic recreational spaces where young people can gather, build friendships, or simply be children. Without safe outlets, some are even pulled toward violence.

Sport Bridges Divides and Builds Healthy Communities

For years, Anera has integrated sports for peace and development into its youth programs in refugee camps and underserved communities. Through football, basketball and other activities, young people gain more than physical exercise. They build teamwork, confidence and conflict-resolution skills.
Anera has designed many sports programs with community realities in mind. Activities are offered for both boys and girls, with options for mixed and separate participation where appropriate. Local partnerships ensure that programs are inclusive, culturally grounded and sustainable.

Building More Than Fields

Anera’s sports for peace and development work has always gone beyond programming. It brings together infrastructure and opportunity at the same time. In places where safe spaces are scarce, we rehabilitate and rebuild sports facilities while ensuring they are actively used through structured programs that engage youth and communities.

Anera has in the past restored community hubs like the Mosadar Sports Club in Gaza and fields in communities such as the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon that serve not only as physical spaces, but as active centers for youth programming and community engagement.

More recently, our teams in Gaza have been working to heal wounds through psychosocial sports activities. Psychosocial support has been a central part of Anera’s response to the trauma caused by the war. By integrating sport into these efforts, through structured games, team activities and movement, Anera creates engaging, accessible spaces where young people can release stress, rebuild trust and connection, and regain a sense of stability as they begin to heal.

Last month, in partnership with UNICEF under the Nahno Volunteers Project, Anera expanded life skills and sports-for-well-being sessions across technical vocational education and training shelters in Bir Hassan and Dekouane. Reaching more than 400 children and youth, these activities can restore a sense of normalcy and create safe spaces to play, connect and rebuild.

Carrying Forward Into What’s Next

Wars in Gaza and Lebanon have wrought terrible destruction, the scope of which still is unclear and continues to develop. As communities begin to rebuild infrastructure and their bonds, Anera recognizes that the ability to play, to move and to come together is not a luxury. It is a vital part of development and peace. And our work will reflect that recognition as we carry forward into what’s next.

Because even in the most difficult circumstances, something endures. And sometimes, it begins with a ball, a field and a safe place to play.