In 2013, the United Nations declared April 6th International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, a day dedicated to giving as many people access to sports as possible. International Day of Sport also recognizes the power sports have on promoting peace and breaking cultural barriers.

This year, YES alumni celebrated the day by bringing together the Zanzibar YES Alumni Association (ZAYAA) juvenile soccer team and youth from the Saifo Orphanage Center, a local orphanage, to compete in a friendly match of football. Nine alumni, led by Nuru Iddi (YES alumna 2009-2010, Tanzania, hosted in Corwith, IA by IRIS), organized the event on April 1st at the Saifo Orphanage Center.

The Saifo Orphanage Center is run by a woman named Saida; Saida receives some funds from the government to care for the 24 children who live here. Due to her limited budget, Saida lacks the resources necessary to keep up with the area surrounding the orphanage, nor does she have the funds to buy the children outdoor gear to play sports.

Prior to International Day of Sport, the alumni noticed Saida struggling, and they began planning the event. For four hours, the ZAYAA juvenile soccer team and the orphans played football and helped clean up around the orphanage.

With 93 percent of people in Tanzania still at risk of malaria, the upkeep of the environment is needed to keep mosquitos and other carriers of the disease away from people’s homes. By having the children help clean around the orphanage, the alumni made sure those who live there know what to do when Saida cannot clean outside.

At the end of the day, both the orphanage and the ZAYAA soccer team received football equipment, consisting of two balls, 13 pairs of socks and a first aid kit, from ZAYAA alumni. Alumni purchased the goods with funds from Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS). The orphanage also received five kilograms of wheat flour, five kilograms of sugar, one box of glucose and five cartons of water from ZAYAA alumni.

Nuru said the event built a strong connection between the soccer team and children at the orphanage. She also said she thinks the friendships made that day will have a long-lasting, positive impact on both communities

“At first they were only thinking about it as a competition and being the winner of the game, but they then realized it’s not about just about winning,” Nuru said. “Instead, they learned it’s all about working together and helping each other for the development of stronger community.”

Each year, International Day of Sport brings people together to enrich their lives through sports. By engaging in this day with the children, ZAYAA alumni not only gave the orphans an opportunity to play, but also gave Saida a day of rest, which enriched all lives of those involved in the celebration.