By David Gold

UNOSDP Youth_Leadership_Camp_05-07-12July 5 - Experts from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have run a peace camp for 26 youngsters from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, organising activities to develop the skills required to use sport to address social change.

Eleven days of events took place during the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) youth leadership camp at the Sportschule Hennef in Germany.

One of those taking part, 23-year-old Cynthia Coredo from Kenya, said: "The camp has created a platform for all of us from different parts of the globe to come together and share experiences on how sport can contribute to development and peace."

Participants from a number of countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda, too part and important matters relating to the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals, in particular gender equality and the inclusion of disabled people, were addressed.

UNOSDP Youth_Leadership_Camp_05-07-121
"This camp at Sportschule Hennef has been a fantastic example to showcase how sport can contribute to a better world," said Wilfried Lemke, the UN secretary general's special adviser on sport for development and peace.

"I have been especially impressed with the aspect of inclusion, and have seen firsthand how sport has contributed to inclusion and integration between the participants themselves.

"Now it is essential that the participants return to their organisations and communities and implement what they have learned here in Hennef.

"We will continue to support and communicate with these young leaders in order that they can make a real difference in their communities."

As well as support from the IPC, a number of other organisations, from the International Judo and Table Tennis Federations to German football team Bayer Leverkusen, assisted the UNOSDP camp.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]