The most fundamental questions here are: How do we create peace in a region devastated by years of conflict and violence? What are the concrete steps that we can take to engage youth in reconciliation, to give them the opportunity and skills to create a new future for Africa?

Our Work and Programs

Sports Teams

After seven years of organizing sports teams for street children in Rwanda and Burundi, the leaders of Amani Africa have seen the transformational effect that these teams have on children's lives. Participation in sports activities can be a powerful reunifying agent in any society, based on the capability of these teams to create friendships, dissolve ethnic tensions, encourage fair play, and develop an understanding of peaceful resolution of conflict at a young age.

Amani uses sports teams and clubs as one way to reach out to Rwandan and Burundian youth and street children. Each week, over 5,000 boys and girls participate in sports activities organized by Amani that include soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, and track and field. Every afternoon and Saturday, the children flock to the Amani fields and stay until sunset. The older boys generally choose to participate in soccer tournaments, while the younger children play other games with Amani volunteer coaches. Over 70 Rwandan volunteers coach and mentor the sports teams.

In addition, Amani Africa organizes sports clubs and tournaments that promote and educate youth through messages of unity, reconciliation, gender equality, tolerance, and health, thus promoting peace values among the youth. Not only do the youth discover important lessons from their participation on Amani sports teams, but for many children, these activities are also the only structured and nurturing time in their everyday lives.