By David Gold

Generations for_Peace_children_line_up_Sept_2September 2 - Generations For Peace delegates Aram and Satenik Tiraturyan have organised a sport camp for 40 youngsters in Gymuri, Armenia.


The pair attended a sports camp run by Generations For Peace two years ago in Sochi, Russia, the host city of the next Winter Olympic and Paralympics in 2014.

They said they were inspired to organise a camp in their homeland to help promote peace in the region.

Gymuri suffers from poverty, unemployment and the after effects from a huge earthquake which ripped through the area in 1988.

"After we attended the Generations For Peace Sochi Camp in 2010, we felt that we had a responsibility towards our country," said Satenik.

"We planned our camp so that it would provide a fun and interactive entry point for helping children traumatised by the natural disasters and resulting economic situation in Armenia to overcome their social problems."

Generations For Peace trains young delegates and uses sport as a tool to promote peace in some of the worst affected conflict regions in the world.

Armenian Peace_Sport_Camp_children_play_Sept_2Armenian children take part in activities at the Generations for Peace sport camp in Gymuri

The organisation was set up by Jordan's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Prince Feisal in 2007, and has trained hundreds of delegates from areas including the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Generations For Peace claim to have reached more than 75,000 children in the last five years.

"Children in Armenia have suffered a great deal during the past years," said Aram.

"We wanted to create a safe environment for them here and to help them live a normal life, and to promote respect and tolerance through teamwork.

"Our programme is only a small step towards the change process, but we believe it will make a difference."

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