| dc.description.abstract | Sport as a means for peacebuilding has attracted substantial global interest in recent years among researchers, governmental and intergovernmental organisations, development workers, corporations, not for profit community-based organisations and activists among others. This study manly focuses on the relationship between sport and peacebuilding in Nakivale refugee settlement where former adversaries or foes are able to live together. It acknowledges that sport for peacebuilding is the most tenuous to sustain and quantify success, but it also proposes that sport as a tool for peacebuilding offers a tremendous opportunity for sport that is markedly different from previous roles that sport has occupied. The rise of this field has drawn criticism from scholars who are concerned about the rigor of program assessment methods among other issues. While these complaints are valid and to a large extent accurate, the potential of sport as a means of peacebuilding should be considered worthy of further exploration by researchers and practitioners. The study mainly employed a qualitative research design mapped with some quantitative data. Qualitative research intended to penetrate to the deeper significance that the subject of the research ascribes to. It involves an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter and gives priority to what the data contribute to important research questions or existing information. The researcher mainly employed the use of focus group discussions and in-depth qualitative interviews for his data collection as these dug into the behavioral characteristics of the participants’ views. Focus group discussions were useful for gathering subjective perspectives from key stakeholders. According to the findings: the major sport programs like the red ball child play, live safe play safe and early child play were responsible for holistic and youth development, empowering children and youth in terms of building knowledge, skills and attitude about HIV/AIDs and lastly promoting the holistic development of young children using parallel and cooperative play activities according to the first objective. In the second objective, sport played roles of sensitizing community members about human rights, peaceful conflict resolution; enhanced hygiene, improved co-existence of people, and stigma reduction. According to the second objective; trauma was dealt with, there was integration with host community, improved conditions at the camp and provision of an alternative to destructive behaviour.
As a conclusion, it is important to be aware that there are limitations to peacebuilding in refugee settlements through sport. Sport is a social construct and its role and function depends largely on what we make of it and how it is consumed. However, skills obtained from sport for peacebuilding programs can contribute to sustainable peacebuilding strategies by supporting existing development activities especially protection and rule of law structures. As a recommendation, there is need for research into precise circumstances under which sport for peacebuilding maybe adapted to achieve positive outcomes in different contexts, and for different populations and individuals; and research that will assist implementers to determine and plan the specific aims and forms of interventions. This study provides an overview of the evolution of sport as a tool for peacebuilding, explores the vital but slow developing place of sport within the development arena including a theoretical framework that should guide the association of sport and peace. This is followed by literature review and exemplars of sport and peace initiatives, and a summary of best practices for sport and peace success. The study synthesizes the contribution of sport towards increasing community co-existence through the promotion of psychosocial well-being and peace and development objectives, while appreciating sport as a social construct whose role and function depends largely on what we make of it and how it is consumed. | en_US |
