The first edition of the Play4Peace Forum in Morocco took place on Wednesday, April 9, in Rabat, organized by the Belgian NGO of the same name. The organizers aim for this project to take root in the Oriental region, inspired by the model established in Brussels. Play4Peace held its first forum in Morocco on Wednesday, April 9, in Rabat. To mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the event was organized in partnership with the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), the Belgian Embassy in Morocco, the Hiba Foundation, and the Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM). The inaugural event provided an excellent opportunity for the NGO, which announced the creation of a House4Peace in the Oriental region, aimed at benefiting the region's youth. In Brussels, the House4Peace already established by the association offers young people a space to «study and/or work on their personal projects in a stimulating and welcoming environment». Intended as a «study and meeting place», it is «accessible seven days a week, year-round», serving as a landmark for «sharing and learning». To foster autonomy and responsibility among young people, access is managed by a group from the NGO. On-site spaces are provided for conferences, training courses, and entertainment activities, including board game evenings. For the initiators, adapting this project to the particularities and local needs of Morocco is the culmination of 11 years of work in Brussels. In the heart of the cosmopolitan city, Belgian-Moroccan Ayman Ramdani founded the Play4Peace association in 2014. A native of Brussels, he was driven by the desire to «foster social inclusion by supporting less privileged young people, aged 16 to 28, in their personal and professional development through sport, education, and mentoring». Sharing best practices through work with young people His significant results earned him the distinction of Commander of the Order of the Crown from King Philippe of Belgium. Now, the founding president aims to put this experience to good use in his native Morocco, particularly in his home region, Oriental. Ayman Ramdani explains that his association's actions «are fully aligned with the dynamics of sport as a development tool». «I created this association as a tribute to my father, may he rest in peace, because mourning was impossible, and he always made us aware of the importance of looking after other orphans, having been one himself», he explains. Beyond helping young people who have lost a parent, the founder's personal goal is to reach out to those in difficult or vulnerable situations «to break down social and cultural barriers by developing their talent and potential». In Morocco, his ambition is to highlight this initiative through a forum focusing on sport and culture as «effective means of social and economic inclusion». To this end, Ayman Ramdani advocates for «concrete actions for the integration of young Moroccans, particularly those from priority regions». In the presence of Belgian and Moroccan personalities, institutions, associations, and young people, the debates focused on the impact of these two components on the well-being and future of young people. Creating inspiring role models for troubled youth Ghislaine El Abid, CCME project manager, underscored the importance of this dynamic through the impact of sports figures of Moroccan origin on the ties between their host country and country of origin. «These public figures, whether active in football, basketball, or other disciplines, are often seen as bridges between cultures», she asserted. In her speech, she also emphasized the importance of studying «how [these personalities'] actions and speeches foster intercultural dialogue, reduce stereotypes, and promote messages of peace and unity». Creating inspirational role models for young people in difficult situations, Ghislaine El Abid mentioned «a few emblematic figures» to illustrate this aspect, such as Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi and Ibtissam Bouharat, a professional footballer in Belgium and one of the first women of immigrant background to join a Belgian professional club at a very young age. «These top athletes can act as role models for younger generations, not just those of the same nationality. They can also help deconstruct clichés. Their voice (and ways too) is heard», she added. «International competitions can also be described as bilateral cooperation, strengthening ties not only between peoples but also between countries», she added. Turning to the empowerment dimension these dynamics can catalyze, Ghislaine El Abid cited the example of Moroccan-born boxer Ilhame Raguig, a four-time world boxing champion, three-time European champion, and 13-time French champion. «She has also founded a foundation for the defense and protection of women's rights against gender discrimination and all forms of discrimination», she explained. «In Ilhame Raguig's case, it's not just a message of defending rights, peace, or dialogue with others, but also a personal struggle at a very powerful and symbolic moment, during which she is battling a recurrence of cancer. It's a message of hope and victory, a dialogue with ourselves to draw strength even when we think we have none left», Ghislaine El Abid emphasized. Human Development with a Regional Dimension To strengthen cooperation between Belgium and Morocco, this first forum also served as an opportunity to announce the development of Play4Peace Morocco. Ayman Ramdani explained that the goal is to adapt to the needs of young Moroccans in the regions, as part of a project included in the Integrated National Youth Program of the New Development Model. The aim is to «respond to national priorities in terms of socio-economic integration» through education and training, access to culture, sports and leisure activities, economic inclusion and access to employment, and civic participation. Ayman Ramdani believes in this, especially since figures show that, since its founding, the NGO has supported more than 20,000 young people. In 2018, the association even won the Best Global Event Award at the Peace and Sport Forum, chaired by Prince Albert of Monaco. In 2021, it was named «SDGs Voice» by the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development, in recognition of its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
