Sports

Mercy Corps recognizes that sports can transcend difference. We sponsor tournaments, build athletic fields, and, thanks to a strong partnership with Nike, outfit teams and equip schools. We also use sports to help children recover emotionally from trauma caused by conflict or disaster. In these and other ways, Mercy Corps is uniting former adversaries on the playing fields and teaching youth important lessons about teamwork, responsibility and leadership.

Blog Post: Seeing the work first hand ›

Country: Uganda

It is one thing to read all about the work of an organisation. It is something entirely different to see it with your own eyes. It is inspirational.

Blog Post: Celebrating peace in Khanaqin ›

Country: Iraq

Children from Khanaqin released white doves and read a famous poem before a football match celebrating Peace Day.

Blog Post: Kids enjoy peace for one day in Santander ›

Country: Colombia

Vivo Jugando is a new Mercy Corps sports-for-change strategy that uses football and yoga to give kids tools to deal with critical issues in their lives.

Blog Post: India's tea country hosts Peace Day football festival ›

Country: India

As part of Mercy Corps' celebration of International Peace Day, as football festival was held at the Dhooteray Ground in Darjeeling, India, on September 21.

Blog Post: Promoting peace in northern Lebanon ›

Country: Lebanon

As part of Mercy Corps' efforts to reach conflict-affected youth in Lebanon, Mercy Corps and Najdeh Association set up a five-day football tournament in September.

Blog Post: Political speeches and friendly tug-o-war highlight Peace Day in Keyna ›

Country: Kenya

More than 1,000 people attended events that included football matches, theater performances and an old-fashioned tug-of-war in Eldoret.

Blog Post: Mercy Corps honors Peace Day with seven-a-side soccer in Scotland ›

On Sept. 21, Mercy Corps' European Headquarters celebrated the International Day of Peace with a round robin of seven-a-side games.

Blog Post: Peace and clean on Independence Day ›

Country: Indonesia

Independence Day is an occasion for all Indonesians to be proud of their beautiful and diverse country — but that seems even more so for the neighborhood of Urimessing.

Blog Post: Tools for life ›

Country: Colombia

I teach weekly yoga classes to fifth graders at a school in Bogota's Ciudad Bolivar, where many youth I teach have been forcibly displaced by Colombia's ongoing conflict.

Blog Post: Building children's confidence through sport ›

Country: Colombia

Mercy Corps Colombia manages an innovative programme which aims to both eliminate and mitigate the effects of some of the worst forms of child labour through sports activities.