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