After the successful implementation of the first Four countries 4 peace event in June 2010 realized in the Western province and in the Eastern province of Republic Democratic of Congo (Gisenyi and Goma); ESPERANCE Organisation in partnership with German Football Federation are hosting the second edition of the Great Lakes youth program.

Supported by the Germany Football Federation (DFB) and with assistance of the Germany Government's Federal Foreign Office, ESPERANCE is organising a variety of youth friendly activities in the fields of Sport, culture and civic education. Core elements of four day festival is a "Fooball Amahoro Tournament" to take place from on 17th to 19th March 2011.

"Football Amahoro" is a social-pedagogical Instrument developed by ESPERANCE in order to promote social inclusion and mutual understanding through encounter and exchange by using football as a medium.  According to its basic, three female and three male players are on the same team, whereby only girls/women are allowed to score. On top of that, there are no referees involved and the players are supposed to guarantee fair-play and, if necessary to resolve occurring conflict themselves.

This year, the participating teams are from the Congolese cities of Bukavu and Goma, Kirundo and Kayanza in Burundi, as well as the Southern Ugandan communities of Cyanika and Kisoro, and Rwanda which is represented by the host Esperance and a selection of young people from the Gihembe Refugee Camp in Byumba.

By participating at the "Four Countries 4 Peace" event, the youth of the Great Lakes Region while have an opportunity for a trans-national learning experience.They will exchange their views and explore side by side how to build a common future by coexisting constructively. More precisely, the participants will analyse their potential of contributing to the Millennium Development Goals. This specific workshop focuses was inspired by Mr. Wilfried Lemeke, special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, who will share and give a presentation to the participants.

On the program of the activity there is:

                                                     -A workshop on "active youth participation in the fight against poverty".

                                                     -Explanation of Football-Amahoro Philosophy including the tournaments rules.

                                                     -Press conference.

                                                     -Football Amahoro Tournaments, and

                                                     -Four Countries 4 Peace Festival 

                                                                                                                                                                                   NTEZIRYAYO Jean Paul

                                                                                                                                                                                   On 14th March 2011