How To Engage And Educate Youth Through Football

One of the conference we've been attending is called A Call To Europe.

We did a three days discussion in Rotterdam, which was about the issues discrimination, getting youth involved in issues they face in Europe, like:

Racism, inclusion (to have a sense of belonging, being part of the decision making in our communities), human rights and a greater understanding between communities.

I was on stage, sharing how football can be used to achieve the above. It’s a tool that can engage people from all walks of life especially the youth.

It’s not just a sport but a way of coming together, celebrating together, working together, learning together and being part of the community as a whole.

And feel that sense of belonging which people and the youth today really need. What Call To Europe wanted me to share about the work we're doing with FIC.

How To Use Football In Communities

The following is what we shared:

• How we use sports, particular football to bring Sheffield communities together.
• How we engage youth in organisation sports activities.
• How Sheffield is a mukti-cultureal city and how people they dealing with each other in Sheffield
• Rotterdam is a city which is multicultural.

They wanted to learn from my experience because they read the book called Britain Everyday’s Hero, The Making Of Good Society.

The Call To Europe workshop held different workshops on immigrants and refugees issues, european trade between member states, the new member state in european union to Human Rights laws in european union.

Also the European vision outside the european zone like African, American and Asian. So it was three days in Rotterdam and three days in Hague.

The Hague is where the International Criminal Courts are based. Where I've had the experience of being in these courts, hearing the case of two Congolese War Lords.

We spent one evening in Amsterdam at the Unity Is A Strength Foundation Award, where they give awards to different guests or organisations.

Desbon Bushiri
FIC Coordination
Football Coach

How FIC is Using Football To Develop Community Champions In DR Congo

Just had a meeting with Adam Taha, two hours ago and he opened my eyes to how to market and attract interest, cash and funding to FIC.

He shared with me the journey of Andrew Carnegie, the real meaning of Definite Purpose Aim. The story of Napoleon Hill which revealed, how knowing what I wanted to do from day one, has been a great asset.

It was an amazing two hours.

We went through the needs I'm targeting and together, planned a marketing blue print to help FIC to achieve it's aims.

One of the challenges FIC has had is I needed to find a way to generate funds to support for the work I'm doing with the team in Africa. For some years now, I've worked with an amazing team who have worked without funding for the last 3 years.

It's what Adam Taha mentioned in the story of Andrew Carnegie - to go the Extra Mile without thinking of getting paid first but do what you love to do.

How To Use Football In A World Of
Poverty And Lack Of Education
It's here where I share with you the problems and solutions of how to use Football to solve the many problems in the terroitory of Fizi in province in South Kivu in DR Congo.

There is a lack of education, poverty, disease DR Congo and the cause is due to the war.

The war has been over from 2006, when a president was elected but we still see the overwhelming impact it has had till this day.

For example, the majority of the children have no access to education, clean water, food, clothing, shelters and the basic needs that every human being can have today.

We believe that any single child around the world has the right to education and a basic needs of a home, clean water and food.

How To Inspire And Develop Community
Champions In DR Congo
What you see in the video above is where FIC is working from the ground, creating activities for children by giving them hope.

We're in Katanga Primary School, terroitory of Fizi in province in South Kivu in DR Congo.

You'll see us working to inspire young children to become community champions through FIC sporting activities.

Desbon Bushiri
FIC Coordinator

Using Football: How Do You Manage Without Funding For 3 years?

Photo: Desbon Bushiri at United Nations

Head Quarters Geneva

How Do You Manage Without Funding
When Using Football To Bring Divided
Communities Together

On the 22nd till the 24 April 2010 I went to Vienna, Austria to do present a talk and also to ask questions, on how to use Football to bring communities together.

There were about 150 different people and they represented the organisations they are with.
Many questions were asked as we split into groups to discuss.

One of the questions that struck the group and people I met was:

“How do you manage to do the work in Africa, DR Congo, in this condition of war, poverty, post conflict situation, without funding.”

Photo: Desbon Bushiri inside United Nations
Behind me is the United Nations Departments Chart

It’s something that many organisations are interested in because we do rely on funding but I felt, that when someone believes in what they are doing, with passion, and conviction, we have to keep going until the world recognises and sees the results.

The results happened and it did without funding for the last two years. The funding we did receive was from FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe). $5,000.

The funding wasn’t given in one go. It was given in divided into two parts. $2,500 and then we had showed the receipts and then later, we got the other $2,500.

If I can compare that with only the South Kivu Unity Festival cost us almost $30,000 US dollars. This was raised from people, friends, footballers and the other portion was from my pocket.

How To Use Football And Sports To
Build Relationships Within Communities

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it hurt because I had my own responsibilities – family, children, life living in UK, studying and so many aspects in life many do not consider.

Thinking that we are paid a monthly salary when in fact, much of what I shared was done without funding.

Photo: Desbon Bushiri Speaking on stage with

Rotterdam Lord Mayor

So how did we manage to do all the work, from the festivals, football matches, education, conflict resolution workshops, youth projects, working with primary schools and supporting orphans from war, disease and conflicts?

With a lot of belief, work, and determination and in the hope, that United Nations and other organisations see that we are right in the heart of it all.

We had to dig into our own pockets. We strengthened relationships with locals and local activitists. In return, these relationships and our committment became a valuable asset because the people helped.

Still, it was a struggle but we knew, in times to come, funding will come. It was a matter of time.

Is Local Knowledge Essential To Succeeed?

We are right in there, doing the work. If you asked for stats, we got them. If you asked for what problems and solutions needed, we got the information.

If you asked what is needed and show evidence, proof, then we got it all because we are right in there, doing the work and the relationship is built with all the communities.

When it comes to talk about peace, think about conflict as an epidemic which brings disease. When a lot of people are determined to combat it, it can be halted, stopped, prevented.

So when the local activists are determined with the local knowledge they possess to combat conflict, it can be stopped. This is why the local people on the ground, with the local knowledge they possess is really vital to carry on the work.

This is why our organisation has been successful.

You can imagine, just imagine, if suddenly, right now, United Nations, UNICEF and other organisations that do a lot of work, said..

“Here is $1 million funding, go and do the work, document everything, show us exactly what the problems are, how to solve it AND...create the solutions..”

Photo: Desbon Bushiri in Vienna, Austria with
Joanna Dunn Senior Advisor To UNICEF

Then believe me when I say this, it will happen with such precision that it will make others wonder, what else we can achieve with such little funding.

What Happened When I Met Poul Hansen
In the Great Lakes region, we can build a strong partnership which has been there for years, in terms of sports for peace and development – with (UNOSDP) United Nation Office on Sport for Development and Peace.

This is one of my vision for FIC.

Photo From Left to Right:
Desbon Bushiri with Poul Hansen In Vienna Austria

That is why it was a great pleasure to meet Paul Hansen, Head of Office for (UNOSDP).

“Hi this is Desbon Bushiri, founder and Coordinator of Football Inter Communautaire (football between communities), which uses sport particular football for peace.”

Then Paul Hansen introduced himself and we began to talk.

I asked him about the U.N Peace Keeping Army (MONUC) in DR Congo, an important and largest Peace Keeping in world history.

What’s the criteria of U.N and (UNOSDP) to fund projects working in the field of conflict and peace?
I asked him if his office only funds large organisations, which will be acting as umbrella to get local organisations to deliver the work on the ground or area of conflict.

He replied, “No. For what I understand if there a can be a local organisation, which can show the work, we will certainly partner with him and fund him.

Photo: Desbon Bushiri in Vienna
Sport For Development Conference

I think it’s better to fund local organisations , who understand and have knowledge of local issues, problems and resources.”

I have a feeling FIC, football between communities vision of doing so much more in the conflict zones e.g. DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and non conflict areas:which needs development to help communities that suffer with hunger and disease.

These communities are within Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and all these countries together are called the Great Lakes Region

Desbon Bushiri