The French NGO Sports Sans Frontieres through sport promotes human rights and social justice in the difficult and still very patriarchal Afghan society unjust



The main objectives of the NGO include "the promotion of women's rights and building bridges between different nationalities Afghan conflict," explains Michaela Le Merdy, Director of the NGOs operating in Kabul.

The operations of this small but well organized NGOs began nine years ago when the director of the Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, Anwar Jekdalek invited the organization to settle in the country to help rebuild it.

"SSF operates through three core programs. First and foremost is based on practical training for a quality sport and physical education proper, while we use physical education as a tool to raise awareness and develop the fundamental rights of the people, "explains Le Merdy.

To this end, and with funding and cooperation of the Organization for Women of the United Nations (UNWOMAN), the NGO has created diferentas manuals that are promoted games extolling the rights of equality and solidarity, especially in regard to the eradication of violence against women (EWAN), gender equality and awareness of the disease AIDS, which in Afghanistan is still stigmatized.

"For this we have a program with the Afghan Ministry of Education in which trainers train yourselves in order to apply these manuals, as the sports curriculum within the Ministry of Education is very weak, especially in regard to physical education teachers in schools, "says the Director of SSF.

Thus the main objective of the program is to equip EWAN future teachers of physical education in schools Afghan educational tools based on respect for others.

A difficult challenge to overcome in a country where lack of rights is the daily bread. Thus the activities of the NGOs also include "the training of social workers from different organizations focusing on women's rights", the hardest hit in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan, "and the creation of a platform in school sports Malalai" in Kabul, the French organization that works to support the Afghan ethnic equality, and particularly the Hazara minority.

"I do not think that sport alone is capable of completely changing the shortcomings of the Afghan society, but I am convinced that sports can help this change happen in Afghanistan as they are a bridge between people in the no differences between men and women or between Hazara and Pashtun-two rival ethnic groups in the country, by providing values ​​of cooperation and respect among people, "says Le Merdy.

Unfortunately, the NGO plans to end its activities in Afghanistan during the course of this year, "which has nothing to do with the state of the current situation in the country," says Le Merdy, adding that "SSF is an organization that dedicated to developing and, therefore, when you consider that its programs have been implemented correctly is time to move on and focus on other programs around the world. "

Sport as a tool to achieve peace in Afghanistan is a tactic that neither the Afghan government and international forces have been considered enough. The power of sport crosses borders, ideologies, religions and conflict.

Many cases are bitter enemies who laid down their arms for a day and enjoyed the entertainment. German and British soldiers during the First World War football game, the challenge of Jessie Owens to German dictator Adolf Hitler during the Berlin Olympics of 1936, Nationals and Reds of the turbulent Civil War Spain, giving the ball, or even stories FARC and paramilitary groups in Colombia agreeing a cease-fire to watch the World Cup are just a few examples of what sport can achieve.

Throughout the reign of terror of the Taliban the sport itself was not banned in Afghanistan, but many of the games, especially those held in public, came preceded by summary executions, mostly women accused of adultery, in the Olympic Stadium Ghazni, Kabul. A hard to erase memories of the Afghan psyche.

For now, thanks to organizations such as SSF, the sport is being used for hundreds of Afghans understand the importance of gender equality and respect for human rights for optimal development of democracy in the country.

And who knows, maybe in the future serve to those described by the International Forces and the Afghan government and insurgents, rebels or terrorists lay down their arms to take a little game before eating with the other side, and even against such hated infidels. Sport in Afghanistan can save lives, and Sports Without Borders understand and fight for this great truth.

Afghanistan,Education,French,NGOwomen's rights,United Nations,World