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For three days, from January 27 to 29, the ANE Sports Complex in Pemba (Mozambique) hosted the school tournament: “United through sport” against hate and discrimination. Hundreds of boys and girls showed that when the game is played on equal terms, respect becomes the norm and hate has no place.
It was a space where sport became a tool for coexistence, education, and the active rejection of discrimination.
The “United through sport” tournament was not focused solely on sporting results. Its main goal was to promote values such as empathy, equality, and peace through sports practice. This initiative is part of the project “Score against hate and discrimination”, led by Ayuda en Acción, CEAP, and the Adidas Foundation, starting from a clear guiding question: can sport truly be an effective tool to educate for peaceful coexistence?
In a region like Cabo Delgado, marked by social and community challenges, the answer came from the playing field.
More than 400 children building coexistence through sport
Around 400 students from the schools of Kobá, Maringanha, Wimbe, Ingonane, and Eduardo Mondlane took part in the “United Through Sport” tournament, turning the field into a space for connection and cooperation.
The images spoke for themselves:
- Girls leading handball teams with confidence and determination.
- Boys celebrating their teammates’ achievements as shared victories.
- Mixed teams where equality was not explained — it was practiced.
Sport became a common language, breaking down barriers and strengthening the sense of community.
Health and safety education beyond the game
The experience went beyond sports competition. During the event, participants received complementary training from different local actors:
- Health teams from SDSMAS, who addressed the importance of oral hygiene and overall health care.
- The Traffic Police, who provided guidance on road safety and safe mobility within the city.
Each session was received with the same attention as a tactical briefing before a match, reinforcing the tournament’s comprehensive educational approach.
The victory that doesn’t appear on the scoreboard
The presence of the Provincial Director of Youth and Sport highlighted the institutional relevance of the event. However, the true outcome was visible at the end of every match: hugs between rivals, shared smiles, and mutual respect.
In “United Through Sport”, the most important prize was not a trophy, but the certainty that the boys and girls returned home carrying values that go beyond sport: equality, empathy, and coexistence.
Our commitment continues in Cabo Delgado
The end of the tournament did not mark a conclusion, but a new beginning. At Ayuda en Acción, the commitment remains active:
- Rehabilitation of sports fields.
- Training of coaches with an educational approach.
- Use of sport as a tool for peacebuilding.
Because when a child can play without fear of being who they are, the impact goes far beyond the field. In Pemba and across Cabo Delgado, the future is already playing on the side of equality.
