Drawing on its expertise in sport for development and peace, Peace and Sport was invited by UNESCO to participate in the NGO Forum on Thursday, May 21. This leading international gathering, dedicated this year to building a culture of peace in Africa, served as a key platform for dialogue between institutional decision-makers and civil society.
Rethinking education through the lens of sport
The day centered on the foundational elements of peace: water, education, and youth. At the heart of the program, the session “Reimagining Education Systems as Engines of Peace” served as a key forum for discussion. Moderated by Nisrine Ibn Abdeljalil, Executive Director of the Moroccan Foundation for the Promotion of Preschool Education, this panel brought together international experts such as Kuany Kiir Kuany, a program specialist at UNESCO, and Cheik Mbow of COSYDEP.
It was within this strategic discussion on learning models that Vénuste Niyongabo, Burundian Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000-meter race and Champion of Peace, shared his collaboration with Peace and Sport and his on-the-ground experience.
From personal resilience to Peace through Sport
Born in the Great Lakes region, an area historically marked by conflict, Vénuste Niyongabo highlighted the transformative role of education and sports in his own life. Having become an Olympic champion at just 22 years old, amidst an institutional crisis in his country, he quickly realized the unifying power of athletes and their ability to restore hope to young people.
“When you can inspire, you can also unite people.”
His meeting with Peace and Sport and its Founding President Joël Bouzou in 2009 marked a turning point in his commitment, making him a Champion of Peace. This collaboration notably led to the organization of Friendship Games on the borders of Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By creating a neutral zone for exchange, these games allowed hundreds of children who did not speak the same language to come together, play, and break down barriers. This initiative brilliantly illustrated the power of diplomacy through sport.
The sports field : a vital classroom for youth
To ensure the long-term impact of this educational initiative, Vénuste Niyongabo presented the Peacemaker project, led by the Venuste Niyongabo Foundation—founded in Burundi in 2022—and Peace and Sport. At the heart of this initiative is the training of “peacebuilders.” The approach is clear: the role of a sports educator is not solely to pursue performance, but above all to shape citizens. Performance alone is not enough if children have not first been taught mutual respect.
By working closely with schools, the program serves as a vital classroom where the skills of living together are acquired. It promotes inclusion by actively involving young girls and enables children from rural areas to meet those from urban centers. Barriers come down, giving way to social cohesion and friendship.
Toward a joint call for Positive Peace
Supported by Monaco’s international cooperation efforts, the initiatives led by Vénuste Niyongabo demonstrate that sport is not merely a distraction, but an essential component of conflict resolution and the building of a lasting legacy. This Champion of Peace’s address to the UNESCO assembly thus reinforces a powerful call to action: rethinking educational systems by integrating the power of sport is a strategic and indispensable investment in establishing positive peace.
