Innovative teaching techniques bring Generations For Peace curriculum to life as part of packed camp schedule

Sochi, 4 October 2010: All 57 delegates at Sochi Camp 2010 took part in a moonwalk masterclass yesterday, with the iconic dance move bringing a session on Working with Children and Youth to life – just one of the new teaching methods that have given the innovative Generations For Peace curriculum such a profound impact at the most intensive camp yet.

Teaching a skill is a crucial element of the Working with Children and Youth module. Stanley Mutoya, who led the session, is a former delegate turned coach and assistant facilitator, who has been working with disenfranchised members of the community in and around his hometown of Harare, Zimbabwe, for 12 years. He explained some core techniques behind teaching new skills with his novel step-by-step workshop. Even HRH Prince Feisal Al-Hussein, Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace, joined the session, much to the delight of the delegates. Afterwards, he said:

‘Stanley’s unique approach typifies the spirit of what we are trying to achieve during this camp. His session was fun and engaging, and it has helped to strengthen the bonds of friendship in the group. But most importantly, the delegates have taken on an invaluable lesson about working with a diverse group of people and empowering them with new skills – in sport, and in life.’

HRH Prince Feisal and the CEO of Generations For Peace, HRH Princess Sarah Al-Feisal, have had a busy week. Having flown from Chicago on Thursday, where HRH Prince Feisal was chairing the Beyond Sport Summit and making the keynote address, both took an active involvement in the first two days of the camp. As well as attending the official opening dinner, they had a high-level meeting with President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov and his wife, Elena Pakhomova, to discuss the progress of Sochi Camp 2010 so far, plans for the coming days, and possible future cooperation between the City of Sochi, the Organizing Committee and Generations For Peace.

HRH Princess Sarah was effusive about the progress made in the opening days of Sochi Camp 2010:

‘There is a really positive, constructive atmosphere throughout the entire group. In every classroom session and at every sports session, all the delegates are enthusiastic, engaged and eager to learn. We’ve been involving local schoolchildren from a variety of backgrounds from the very beginning, and it’s great to see how quickly the delegates are applying their new skills to real-life challenges. There is a lot of hard work left to do, but I think we can be very optimistic that this group can go on to complete their Generations For Peace Pioneer Certification Programme and make a real impact on their communities when they return home.’

Yesterday, HRH Prince Feisal and HRH Princess Sarah attended the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, before returning to Amman for a meeting with International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, who was on his way to visit the NOCs of Palestine and Israel, leading a high-profile IOC delegation.

Meanwhile, back in Russia, the delegates at Sochi Camp 2010 were treated to an inspiring evening of traditional singing and dancing at Sochi University. The show featured 19 separate performances from young locals and celebrated the wonderful diversity that makes the city of Sochi so culturally rich. All of the region’s ethnic, cultural and religious groups were represented, and all received the same warm reception from the appreciative 200-strong audience.

The event complemented Sochi Camp 2010 perfectly. Generations For Peace has brought together delegates from 11 European and Central Asian countries as the organisation seeks to use sport to unify divided communities and promote tolerance, respect and understanding – exactly the qualities exhibited with such passion and enthusiasm by Sochi University’s talented young performers.

This morning, the Sochi Camp 2010 delegates became the first ever to sign the Generations For Peace environmental pledge. As well as agreeing to uphold the ecological standards set by Generations For Peace, each delegate also made a personal commitment to helping his or her own community to use resources more sustainably.

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For photos, please visit: http://workspace.meltwaterdrive.com/share/8163B3BF01

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