Harnessing Sport to Support Healing, Resilience, and Social Cohesion
After more than a decade of conflict, Syrian communities continue to navigate the complex realities of recovery, reconciliation, and rebuilding. In this context, sport is increasingly being recognized not merely as recreation, but as a trauma-informed and community-centered tool for healing and peacebuilding.
In mid-January 2026, peacebuilders, sport-for-development practitioners, and international advocates convened in Amman, Jordan, for the third edition of Sport for Peacebuilding in Syria: From Dialogue to Action — a global gathering focused on advancing practical strategies for using sport to foster social cohesion, youth empowerment, and long-term resilience.
From Dialogue to Action
Hosted in Amman under the patronage of Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein, founder and chairman of Generations For Peace, the conference underscored the growing recognition of sport as a structured pathway toward recovery in conflict-affected contexts.
Participants included:
- International peacebuilders and mediators
- Sport-for-good practitioners
- Civil society organizations
- Youth development advocates
- Community leaders working in and around Syria
Together, they explored how sport initiatives — when intentionally designed and locally embedded — can move beyond symbolic unity to deliver measurable social impact.
Why Sport Matters in Post-Conflict Recovery
With more than a decade of instability having deeply affected Syrian communities, rebuilding social trust remains a central challenge. The conference emphasized that sport can provide:
- Safe spaces for dialogue and interaction
- Trauma-sensitive engagement mechanisms
- Opportunities for teamwork and cooperation
- Platforms for rebuilding trust and shared identity
Crucially, discussions extended beyond physical activity. Sport was framed as a vehicle for mental health support, resilience building, and psychosocial recovery — particularly among young people whose education, social networks, and sense of stability were disrupted by conflict.
Research and field programs highlighted at the conference reinforced the idea that structured sport programs — when inclusive and community-driven — can contribute meaningfully to restoring confidence, dignity, and belonging.
Core Themes of the Gathering
1. Dialogue on Sport’s Role in Peacebuilding
A central focus of the event was deepening understanding of how sport can function within broader peacebuilding ecosystems. Participants discussed:
- Integrating sport into reconciliation initiatives
- Designing inclusive programs that bridge ethnic, sectarian, and social divides
- Ensuring local ownership and sustainability
The emphasis remained on translating dialogue into action — shifting from conceptual recognition of sport’s potential toward coordinated implementation strategies.
2. Cross-Sector Collaboration
The conference created a platform for practitioners across sectors to exchange insights and best practices. Civil society leaders, community organizers, and international organizations shared experiences from trauma-sensitive sport programming in refugee communities and conflict-affected areas.
This cross-sector dialogue reinforced a key principle: sport achieves its greatest peacebuilding impact when aligned with education, mental health services, youth leadership development, and community engagement frameworks.
3. Youth Recovery and Empowerment
Young people were at the heart of the discussions. In post-conflict environments, youth often face disrupted schooling, limited employment prospects, and weakened social networks. Sport programs, when thoughtfully designed, can:
- Rebuild self-confidence and leadership skills
- Restore peer networks and community bonds
- Provide constructive outlets for stress and trauma
- Foster a renewed sense of hope and shared purpose
By positioning youth not merely as beneficiaries but as active agents of peace, sport becomes a vehicle for long-term societal transformation.
A Regional Platform with Global Relevance
Hosting the conference in Amman — a regional hub closely connected to Syrian recovery efforts — underscored the cross-border dimension of peacebuilding work. The gathering demonstrated how regional cooperation, supported by international networks, can strengthen community-level impact.
More broadly, the conference contributes to the evolving global discourse on Sport for Development and Peace, reinforcing that sport must be embedded within holistic recovery strategies rather than treated as a standalone intervention.
Conclusion: Building Resilience Through Play
Sport for Peacebuilding in Syria: From Dialogue to Action reflects a growing consensus: in contexts marked by prolonged conflict, healing requires both structural reforms and human connection.
Sport cannot replace political solutions or economic reconstruction. However, it can help restore trust, rebuild social fabric, and create safe environments where dialogue and cooperation take root. By prioritizing trauma-informed practice, youth leadership, and cross-sector collaboration, the January 2026 gathering advanced a practical roadmap for leveraging sport as a tool for resilience and reconciliation.
In communities striving to move from recovery toward renewal, sport offers more than movement — it offers momentum.
