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A popular philosopher once wrote that hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. Through football, JICA Uganda and Soltilo Bright Stars (SBS), a Uganda Premiere League Football Club have embarked on a journey of restoring hope and dreams of refugee children and youth and host communities as well as youth in slum settlements.

On 28th May, 2022, in collaboration with SBS FC, and Terra Renaissance, a Japanese NGO promoting the re-integration of former LRA child soldiers and poverty reduction in Gulu District, JICA held football classes dubbed ‘Football 4 Bright Futures' for refugees and host communities in Pagirinya refugee settlement in Eastern Adjumani in Northern Uganda.

Pagirinya refugee settlement has a total of 200 (girls and boys) refugee children and host communities playing football. Of these, 100 participants aged between 12 and 19 participated in the football classes ahead of the TICAD CUP Uganda Women's football Tournament in August this year. Mr. Anzo Makpwe, the President of the Pagirinya Refugee Football Association stated that the association created in 2020 comprises of 18 boys clubs and 12 girls teams.

SBS Player Methodius Jungu takes one of the teams through how the drills were to be conducted.

Girls showing off their skills during the drills.

While opening the event, Mr. Titus Jogo, a Sports Veteran and Refugee Desk Officer at Office of the Prime Minister, also fondly referred to as the ‘Father of Refugees in Uganda' highlighted the importance of sports, having been and still is a sports person himself.

It was quite gratifying watching youth, especially girls from football clubs in the refugee settlement showcase their skills, oblivious of what the future held for them in sports. However, the JICA Uganda Chief Representative Mr. Uchiyama Takayuki encouraged all participants to continue playing football saying, "Sport is rewarding. Through sports, you discover the importance of working hard, taking care of yourself and are able to show case your talent".

Many of these children playing, with no array of hope did not have sports gear but played with all enthusiasm. Mr. Uchiyama, on behalf of JICA Uganda office, further pledged to have the youth that excelled participate in the TICAD CUP in August, and indeed 17 girls were selected at the end of the football drills.

JICA, through these football classes, left smiles on the faces of children and youth in the settlement, plus dwellers that were spectating. It therefore goes without saying that sport restores hope and dreams. A number of refugee children and host communities will be rewriting their stories in future.

Background

In October 2021, JICA and SBS signed a partnership to promote JICA's ‘Sport for All', Sport and Development agenda to promote international cooperation through sports and develop activities that give hope to Ugandans, especially refugee children, children in host communities, surrounding communities and youth from slums. The football classes and games are part of the activities. These football drills and matches were therefore a fulfilment of one of the core areas of cooperation.

L-R: Soltilo Bright Stars Players; Methodius Jungu, Alfred Onek and Emmanuel Were and their coach Tsuchiya Masato.

In the recent past, sport has played a vital role in development and JICA believes that it will inspire youth, foster gender equality, support refugees' lives in Uganda, as well as foster capacity development.