The camp saw 71 youth leaders from eight countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Serbia and Turkmenistan - participate in leadership developing activities to empower them to lead and cascade change in their communities, and work at the grassroots to address local issues of conflict and violence.

Prince Feisal spoke highly of the young leaders, saying that each delegate showed "great enthusiasm, a lot of energy and looked inspired to go back home and make a difference in their communities".

He claimed the opportunity to attend the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Opening Ceremony was a "life changing experience" and a "prime example of using sport to help bring about peace and change in society".

Prince Feisal Al Hussein described the opportunity to attend the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Opening Ceremony as a unique and life changing experience for the 71 young leaders ©Generations For Peace


The Generations For Peace Sochi Camp 2014 marked the third camp to be held in Sochi and celebrated a five-year "Legacy Today" partnership with Sochi 2014 and the Sochi City Administration.

"Our 'Legacy Today' partnership with Sochi 2014 and Sochi City Administration over the last five years has itself been a ground-breaking innovation," Prince Feisal added.

"As well as three Sochi Camps and a Sochi Regional Workshop, together we have also supported the actual programmes implemented by Sochi Camp delegates in their own communities, here in Sochi, in different regions of the Russian Federation, and in 12 other countries.

"That is an unprecedented example of an Olympic Games Organising Committee and Host City implementing concrete actions to deliver lasting legacy."

He was joined at the closing press conference by Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov and Sochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko, who echoed him in celebrating the success of the Sochi Camp 2014.

"The backdrop of the Paralympic Winter Games has given the delegates at this camp the experience of a lifetime," Chernyshenko said.

"They heard legendary Russian Paralympian Sergey Shilov share his personal story, embodying the Paralympic values of courage, determination, equality and inspiration, and then witnessed him light the Flame at the Opening Ceremony.

"This shows the power of sport and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements to inspire youth leadership and volunteerism.

"We are proud to have partnered with Generations For Peace, the only peace-through-sport organisation officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee, to create a lasting legacy of volunteers trained to bring people together, to break stereotypes, build understanding and trust, and reduce violence."

The Generations For Peace Sochi Camp 2014 delegates participated in eight days of intensive peace-building training hoping to help bring about change in their communities back home ©Generations For Peace


Prince Feisal insisted that the youth leader's job did not end here, however, highlighting the importance for each delegate to take what they have learnt in Sochi to help bring about change and development in their own communities.

"Our work is not just about running these camps," he said.

"To be successful the work doesn't stop at the camp, it starts here.

"Our job is to provide the opportunity and tools for these young leaders to develop programmes at home which will benefit their communities."

With the camp now concluded, Generations For Peace will continue to mentor and support them as volunteers to use sport, arts, advocacy and dialogue to address local issues of conflict and violence in their community.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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