2020 IMPACT REPORT PHOTO PHOTO NEEDED TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 04 06 07 LETTER TO OUR LETTER FROM OUR WHERE SUPPORTERS COACH SIZWE MISSION WE WORK SETH BLOSE 08 09 11 13 AWARDS & PROVING FRIENDSHIP CYPRUS RECOGNITION IMPACT GAMES 15 17 19 21 MIDDLE NORTHERN SOUTH UNITED EAST IRELAND AFRICA STATES 23 25 27 29 SPORT FOR PEACE SPIN A GLOBAL OUR INNOVATION IN FOCUS YOUTH PEACE PARTNERS NETWORK (SPIN) MOVEMENT 02 A LETTER TO OUR SUPPORTERS Dear Friends, 2020 will be remembered by people all over the world as one of the most trying years in recent history. For our global PeacePlayers family, this was no different. Nonetheless, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen our PeacePlayers community and our incredible youth leaders demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. The positive impact they have had on their communities has been life changing for many. By creating critical human connections and a collective sense of responsibility, PeacePlayers has helped youth and their families find support and comfort across conflict lines and even fostered a sense of global solidarity. As an organization, the pandemic forced us to look beyond immediate challenges and recognize that deep, sweeping collaboration across our sites was necessary in order for us to survive, and even thrive. We worked as a global team to successfully transfer programs to the virtual sphere, and through this cooperation, we came to understand the full potential of our core values of “seeing people as people,” “inside out transformation” and “a culture of collaboration.” This helped accelerate the reconceptualization of our organizational structure, and we are stronger and more effective because of it. Our work bridging seemingly intractable divides and addressing inequities in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Cyprus and the United States remains critical - even more so in light of the global pandemic, which has heightened inequity and conflict across the globe. Our world is divided, but our young leaders give us hope for the future. This hope has earned even greater meaning for us, thanks to the recently released groundbreaking randomized control trial study that confirmed what we have long recognized to be true: PeacePlayers’ young leaders become active and effective ambassadors in their communities, changing their societies every day and building sustainable peace. As we reflect on the year past, we look to you, our partners, supporters and friends. We hope that you are proud of the role that you have played in uniting divided communities through the power of sport, and that you remain inspired to continue to engage in the hard work necessary to create real change. As we prepare to celebrate our 20th anniversary next year, we remain as inspired as ever to create a more peaceful and equitable world through sport. Thank you for your belief and commitment to our goal of building a global youth movement. We stand as one in our humanity as part of a shared, global community that truly believes that #PeaceStartsWithUs. KAREN DOUBILET BRENDAN TUOHEY Global Executive Director Co-Founder and President 03 2020 IMPACT REPORT The best decision “ I’ve made in my life thus far. ” AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEACEPLAYERS FAMILY FROM SIZWE SETH BLOSE, PEACEPLAYERS SOUTH AFRICA COACH AND PARTICIPANT SINCE 2015 On the 17th of February, 2015, I was approached The same PeacePlayers family is what kept me by my older friend who had recently acquired his alive, on my feet and out of trouble last year when very first job and needed me to do what he called I literally had the worst year of my life. The same “a brother’s solid” for him. I agreed, but little did I family (both locally and internationally) that know that it would change my life forever. solidified my path and helped give me clarity as to what I plan on pursuing in the future. The same That friend’s name was Mthokozisi Shange and family that groomed me into being the coach and he had found employment at PeacePlayers South mentor I am and have been for the past two and a Africa. His task was to start a basketball team in the half years. The same family that stands with me City area (Inner City) and he was super nervous. when I face personal issues, regardless of the cost As experienced as he was at coaching basketball to them. The family I’m more than proud to call for my old team in my neighborhood, he had my own. never coached participants of different ethnicities, and so he asked me to join the team and help him Today, I stand proud of the fact that: I have set transition since I was “the perfect age for the team foot into three countries (even though it was one (15) and had a multiethnic background in playing trip) in 2017, which was a huge eye opener for me; team sports.” I made dozens of friends overseas; I have a NQF Level 5 Facilitation certificate; I have a Sports To my surprise, I found family. I found sanction in Injuries first aid certificate; I know what it takes both my peers and coaches. It was the only place to impact change, and I am a pioneer of change in my life with where I didn’t feel excluded for in my community, as well as for the fact that I my “oddness” (being viewed as “too white” for my shamelessly and proudly voice my truth and am black friends at school and “too black” for my white able to be heard. friends outside of school, in terms of my personality and dealing with transitioning from a private to a I thank you for all you’ve done and are continuing to public school as well as coming from the suburb do for me. You have been a true blessing in my life. and now living in the township of Clermont due to life’s circumstances) but rather embraced for Sincerely, being different and taught to capitalize on my weaknesses and turn them into strengths. I was COACH SIZWE SETH BLOSE instilled with the PeacePlayers spirit that still runs through my veins till this day. 04 2020 IMPACT REPORT 05 OUR MISSION To unite divided communities through sport OUR VISION Individual and communal connections creating a more peaceful world PEACEPLAYERS... Fosters connections in divided communities Builds skills in cooperation, inter-personal relationship building, and conflict transformation Empowers youth to be leaders in their communities and advocates for peace around the world Nurtures a sense of global belonging ...THROUGH SPORT 06 WHERE WE WORK PeacePlayers operates in diverse conflict and post-conflict settings across the globe. Each site has a distinct history and culture, and while all programs adhere to our programmatic standards, each site is unique. NORTHERN IRELAND PORTLAND (Coming Soon) BROOKLYN LOS ANGELES BALTIMORE CHICAGO DETROIT MIDDLE EAST CYPRUS SOUTH AFRICA OUR GROWTH EARLY YEARS (Before 2016) EXPANSION TO US CITIES (2017) FUTURE US CITIES OUR HISTORY 2007 2015 2018 Playing for Peace became PPI launched its PPI launched year- 2001 2005 PeacePlayers International (PPI) first program in round programs in to reflect our global movement. Washington, D.C. Chicago and L.A. South Africa Middle East 2001 2006 2007 2018 PLAYING FOR PEACEPLAYERS PEACE INTERNATIONAL 2008 2018 SEPT. 2000 2002 2006 2017 PPI launched its In partnership with Nike, PeacePlayers Northern Cyprus first U.S. program United PPI launched year-round Founded by Ireland in New Orleans. States programs in Baltimore, Sean Tuohey Brooklyn and Detroit. 2011 2017 Sport and Peace Innovation Network (SPIN), our training and consulting initiative, has served organizations working in 15 countries spread over five continents, including: 2012 2013 2015 Argentina - Sports & Peace Chicago - Peace on the Court Portland - Peace on the Court; Northern Ireland - Innovation Network Training Yemen - Promoting Youth Civic Sport & Diversity Program; Kansas City - 2010 2 011 Engagement; Brazil - Sports Police Athletic League; Bosnia and South Africa - Morocco, Ireland & Bulgaria - Anatomy of Peace Training; & Peace Innovation Network 2014 Herzegovina - Youth Sports Coaches Training Training; Switzerland - UN Sport Indigo Youth Tajikistan - International Sports Programming Initiative; Ethiopia - Worldwide Orphans Soccer League; for Development Camp Movement Kyryzstan - Innovations in Coaching Kids Sweden - UN Sport for Development Camp 07 2020 IMPACT REPORT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION 30 November 2004 3 May 2012 January 2017 Rescuer of Humanity Award, Shortlist, Best Sport for Conflict Nike and PeacePlayers Launch Project Love Resolution Award, Beyond Sport Equality Campaign and National Partnership 1 March 2005 4 September 2012 Sportsmanship Day Award, PPI Gets 4 Star Rating on Charity 13 September 2017 Institute for International Sport Navigator Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award 1 April 2006 1 May 2014 Partner, Clinton Global Initiative PPI’s U18 Girls Win Israeli 3 June 2018 National League Championship Institute of International 3 July 2007 for the Southern Division Education (IIE) Victor J. Goldberg Dave Cullen and Trevor Prize for Peace in the Middle East Ringland: Arthur Ashe Courage 19 May 2014 Award, The ESPY Awards Vice President Joseph Biden 23 May 2018 Visits PPI - Cyprus Sports Business Journal 18 February 2008 Celebration of Service Award Brendan and Sean Tuohey: 9 October 2014 Laureus Sport for Good Award, PPI Plays at White House with 25 September 2018 Laureus World Academy National Security Advisor Susan Kwazulu-Natal Recreation Rice Body of the Year 18 May 2008 $1,000,000 Challenge Grant, The 7 March 2015 Fall 2019 American Ireland Fund Heni Bizawi Speaks at Clinton PeacePlayers U.S. Director Global Initiative University of of Programs & Partnerships, Sally 7 June 2008 Miami Nnamani was Featured in Nike’s Island-Wide Cooperation Award, Air Force 1 Campaign Cyprus Civil Society Organization 5 October 2015 Awards PPI Receives Charity Navigator 24 January 2020 4-Star Rating for 4th Year in a PeacePlayers - Northern Ireland 16 June 2008 Row Wins the Flax Trust Arts North Presidential Visit, President Belfast Community Leadership George W.