A simple game of football has the potential to cause divisions or to heal wounds. In Burundi, Tearfund has been working through the local church to use the sport as a tool to bring about lasting peace and unity.
BBC Scotland sports journalist Kenny Crawford discovered this firsthand when he visited Tearfund’s peacebuilding projects in Burundi recently and was invited to play a match alongside local young people.
Burundi has experienced decades of political instability and conflict, including two civil wars which caused a deterioration in living standards and social cohesion. Today Burundi is recognised as one of the poorest countries in the world.
Healing the divisions of the past
Kenny was inspired when he met with Tearfund partner the Diocese of Matana and learnt how they have been working in communities which have previously experienced significant unrest.
He says: ‘I don’t know if I ever saw myself coming to Burundi, but I’m so glad that I did. I had the brilliant opportunity to take part in a football match in Matana alongside two local teams – one being the local police, and the other being young people from the area.
‘In the past, these two sides would have been against each other in terms of political beliefs, yet here they were playing a friendly 11-a-side match on a Saturday afternoon, being cheered on by crowds coming from near and far. It’s great to see that through football, and the local church, Tearfund is bringing people together to move on from the past.’
