« This event showed me that healing isn’t something we do alone.”
July 1, 2025 – Our experience running sports-focused initiatives in fragile communities like the Cape Flats has strengthened our conviction that sports can be a very effective vector of positive social change. Through our Peace Through Sports program which comprises sporting events, classes, coaching courses, and tournaments, we have witnessed how sensitization and advocacy on issues such as mental health, community cohesion, and conflict resolution can be achieved with real results at the grassroots level. This foundation can help disseminate a powerful message of peace in the community and discourage behaviors contrary to solid community cohesion.
In this vein, we recently ran a Peace through Sport and Psychosocial Well-being Awareness event for 40 local youth from Bonteheuwel and Khayelitsha in the Cape Flats, South Africa. The group was also joined by some participants from abroad, hailing from as far away as the United States, bringing a profound intercultural and international dimension to the initiative. The idea was to tap into sport as a vehicle for peacebuilding and emotional healing.
The day opened with energetic, team-based sporting activities designed to build trust, cooperation, and communication. But the more profound objectives of the initiative were focused on communication, dialogue and cohesion: “The football match helped us break the ice,” explained Jane from Bonteheuwel, “but the real power was in the conversations we had after. I’ve seen a lot in my community, friends lost to drugs and violence. Today was different. I felt seen, safe, and inspired to change things. I know now that it’s okay to talk, to cry, and to ask for help.”
After the actual games, a safe and supportive space emerged for reflection and dialogue. Facilitated by trained mental health practitioners, the youths spoke openly about the realities they face: the weight of intergenerational trauma, the threat of gang violence, and the persistent challenges of unemployment and poverty. Discussions on psychosocial well-being introduced participants to practical coping strategies and tools for recognising emotional triggers, managing stress, and seeking help.
“This event showed me that healing isn’t something we do alone,” said Ayanda from Khayelitsha. “I’ve never spoken so openly about my anxiety before. Meeting other young people with similar stories reminded me that my pain isn’t unique, and neither is my strength. I’m walking away with tools and a team.”
What made this gathering truly unique was its international dimension. Youths from different countries joined the event, broadening the conversation and highlighting the global nature of issues like mental health stigma and identity struggles. “Being here in South Africa and connecting with the youth of the Cape Flats reminded me how strong we all are, even in different corners of the world,” said Andrea from the United States. “We face different versions of the same struggle. I’m leaving with new friends, new ideas, and a deeper sense of purpose.”
This cross-cultural exchange fostered not just understanding but solidarity, proving that meaningful peacebuilding begins with listening, empathy, and collaboration. While the event lasted only a day, its effects are already rippling outward. Plans are in motion for peer-led support groups, community sports days, and ongoing youth-driven dialogues that will continue to nurture the seeds of change planted here.
By combining sport, storytelling, and psychosocial education, the event reminded every participant that peace is not an abstract goal, but something built daily through small, intentional acts. It affirmed that young people can, when empowered, become agents of transformation in even the most challenging environments.
At WPDI, we believe in the power of young people to lead the charge for peace, from the playing field to the heart of their communities. This event stands as a testament to what’s possible when we bring people together with purpose, openness, and hope.
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