The Badminton World Federation and Peace and Sport launch their second joint project to encourage peace and social cohesion through badminton - "BADMINTON BA DAME".
First Ride for Peace in East Timor
The first Ride for Peace was held on 10 September 2011 in Timor Leste in collaboration with the Presidential "Dili, City of Peace" campaign and the National Cycling Federation.
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Photos and project underway
In Timor Leste, we work daily with government authorities, local sports governing bodies and various NGOs to use sport as a tool for social integration and social cohesion.
« Badminton Ba Dame » (Badminton for Peace in Tetun, Timorese local language) is a 3 year program led by Timorese Badminton Federation with the support of Peace and Sport, BWF, Badminton Asia, Yonex and the participation of 8 youth centers situated in Highly sensitive areas of Dili, the capital city of the country.
Dili - City of Peace is an initiative from the President and Nobel Peace Prize-winner, José Ramos-Horta. The objective is to make Dili a model of peace for the rest of the country, to promote the image of a pacified society, and to instil national stability, sovereignty and unity.
This initiative encompasses several programs based on dialogue, community involvement and youth leadership. Its practical application involves public events such as the Dili Marathon, the Tour of Timor, etc.
Launched in November 2010 by Champion for Peace and World Champion of Table Tennis Peter Karlsson, this 3-year project takes place in partnership with the ITTF, under the leadership of the Timorese Table Tennis Federation.
Ping Pong Ba Dame aims to give more than 300 young people from violent neighbourhoods in Dili, the capital of Timor Leste, access to structured and supervised sports activities twice a week. Beyond this regular physical exercise, the project organises visits between youth centres located in districts formerly in conflict, to encourage pacific relations through sport.
This pilot project is designed to serve as the basis of a national program, so that this model of collaboration between youth centres can be extended to other centres.
6 NGOs are involved in this project: Action for Change Foundation, Hamahon, Youth Peace Club Timor Leste, Becor Youth Center, Comoro Youth Center, Disable Integration Youth Center
Launched in June 2011, Atletismo Ba Dame is a project in partnership with the IAAF, under the leadership of the Timorese Athletics Federation.
Following the same method as Ping Pong Ba Dame, this pilot project involves more than 300 young people from difficult neighbourhoods of Dili and will be duplicated throughout the rest of the country.
Atletismo Ba Dame also aims to use local resources as sports equipment (plastic bottles, bamboo, coconuts, etc.). A low-cost and sustainable approach. In partnership with the IAAF, we have trained 70 educators for this purpose.
6 NGOs are involved: Action for Change Foundation, Hamahon, Youth Peace Club Timor Leste, Becor Youth Center, Comoro Youth Center, Disable Integration Youth Center
Target populations
Beneficiaries of the program supported by Peace and Sport are:
Street kids with very difficult living conditions and uncertain futures.
Gang members, most of whom were involved in riots in Dili
Country background
Timor Leste (East Timor), an independent Republic, shares the island of Timor with West Timor, an Indonesian province. This geopolitical situation led to numerous clashes from the 70's up until the year 2000. Although the situation has improved since then, instability continues to prevail and impedes the country’s economic and social development.
Timor Leste’s independence, acquired in 1999 by referendum, resulted in violent conflicts particularly with Indonesia, causing over 200,000 East Timorese people to be killed and the destruction of nearly 80% of East Timor's infrastructures.
In April 2006, the Dili riots provoked by the army caused significant damage to the city and foreign troops had to intervene to restore order. Violence is particularly widespread amongst some martial arts groups that are influential among youngsters.
Since 2008, the violence has dropped sharply, enabling the country’s economic and social development to be envisaged in a more peaceful manner. However, Timorese youth, who represent nearly 60% of the population, still face a crying lack of job opportunities and training.
Requested by the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Peace and Sport is helping to implement projects in line with a government program called YESTAR ("Youth Integration through Sports Training and Recreation"). This program aims to contain the widespread violence in the street after the 2006 crisis, to encourage social integration of vulnerable youth and to enhance the Timorese identity.
Partners
FI : IAAF (Athletics), ITTF (Table Tennis) + National Federations Taekwondo, Football, Volleyball, Table Tennis and Athletics
Press release
