Inter’Act in Monaco: refugees testify to the role of sport as a tool for peace and development
On Friday 5th April, the eve of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, students from the Institution François d’Assise Nicolas Barré (FANB) and refugee athletes had an opportunity to exchange views at the “INTER’ACT” symposium organised by the United Nations Refugee Agency (HCR) and the Office of International Cooperation (DCI).
In the presence of Ms. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, all final year students from FANB and several refugee athletes who made the journey to the Principality, attended a meeting on “Sport: a vector for peace, social cohesion and integration”. The aim was firstly to raise student awareness of the situation of refugees and forcibly displaced individuals across the world and to change the way we look at refugee status, and secondly, to share views on how sport serves as a tool for development, solidarity and peace.
The symposium, configured as a forum for exchange and discussion, took place in several stages: a keynote presentation by HCR which dealt with the concepts of humanitarian crisis and forced displacement, was followed by some time to share views and experiences with three refugee athletes and a representative of the Monegasque International Solidarity Organisation (ISO) Peace and Sport, which gave a presentation on the “Live Together” programme, implemented within a refugee camp in Zaatari, Jordan over a six-year period.
Final-year secondary school students, who were also represented in the panel by two delegates, were then given the opportunity to ask questions to the various speakers regarding their commitment to sport. Fanoos shared her experience as a former member of Afghanistan’s female football team, whilst Ammar talked about his personal journey and training as a sports coach. Last but not least, Boubacar spoke about his community-based and civic commitment in regard to people in exile.
Prior to the symposium, FANB students were also able to enjoy a meal prepared by a refugee chef in conjunction with the school’s catering team. She prepared a Thieboudienne, a traditional dish from her country of origin, Senegal.
As a reminder, refugees and displaced individuals are one of the Monegasque Cooperation’s cross-cutting approaches. Since 2020 Monaco has been HCR’s top donor per capita – proof of this strong commitment. As Ms. Rosabrunetto pointed out, “In addition to our financial efforts, we strive to raise awareness of the situation of refugees and displaced individuals among the public, and more specifically among schoolchildren in the Principality”.
Mr Paolo Artini, HCR’s representative in France and Monaco, expressed how delighted he was “that in an era marked by an increasing wave of humanitarian crises, HCR’s teams have got involved alongside the Monaco Cooperation to help students – tomorrow’s citizens – gain a better understanding of the challenges of forced displacement, the importance of solidarity, and the inclusive power of sport for refugees”.
