PeacePlayers International

Posted on July 4, 2007
Filed Under Outreach, Sports, World News |

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In a recent ESPN article, it is reported that two men on opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s violent 30-year conflict are going to be honored the Arthur Ashe Courage Award that is presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

Trevor Ringland, a Protestant rugby star, and Dave Cullen, a Catholic who grew up using basketball to escape from the realities of war, formed PeacePlayers (formerly Playing for Peace) as a means to build a peaceful future for Protestant and Catholic children and eliminate barriers that have divided the country they love.

Playing for Peace was founded in 2001 on the premise that “children who play together can learn to live together.” In August 2002, Playing for Peace extended its program to Northern Ireland with the mission to use basketball to address sectarianism and foster mutual respect and tolerance among Catholic and Protestant children.

Since June of 2005, Playing for Peace-Middle East has: Used the game of basketball to foster mutual respect and tolerance between Jewish and Arab youth in Israel and the West Bank. Here is another interesting ESPN article on the topic called, “Hooping With The Enemy.”

C.Harv

Comments

One Response to “PeacePlayers International”

  1. dusty bestNo Gravatar on July 16th, 2007 11:50 pm

    Before watching the 2007 ESPY Awards, I had never heard of “Peaceplayers” or the two extraordinary men who started this couragous and powerful program. Dave Cullen and Trevor Ringland have come together from opposite sides of the ongoing struggle in Northern Ireland, have put aside a lifetime of hatred, and have joined together to create a sports program that brings together the children of Northern Ireland from both sides of the conflict. Their phylosophy is: If we can learn to play together, we can learn to live together. Through basketball, these two men and the couragous families that have joined them are trying to move a mountain, and one milimeter at a time, they are moving it. Dear God in Heaven, please bless their efforts and grant them strength. Their friendship and their mission is an inspiration to the world. Amen

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