Fatuma Abdulkadir, executive director of streetfootballworld network member Horn Of Africa Development Initiative (HODI), has been awarded the 2011 Stuttgart Peace Prize in recognition of her work.

Originally from northern Kenya, Fatuma studied law in Nairobi, a remarkable achievement considering that most Kenyan girls leave school aged 14 or 15. What makes her story even more extraordinary is that she then chose to return to her home town of Marsabit, where she has worked to promote peace and women’s rights through the medium of football.

Under the motto “shoot to score, not to kill”, Fatuma has contributed to the reconciliation process in a region which has long been affected by warring ethnic groups. For decades, the Borana and Gabbra tribes have been engaged in a series of bloody conflicts over water and agricultural land.

A woman’s voice
In a heavily Muslim area where women’s voices often remain unheard, Fatuma has overcome prejudice and even death threats in order to deliver her message of peace. Women’s councils are held to bring the opposing factions together for discussions, and football tournaments are organised featuring mixed teams of Borana and Gabbra.

HODI has been using football to promote peaceful conflict resolution since 2007. They now reach over 1,000 young people aged 7-25 with their Peace Football Leagues, where men and women from different tribes play together. HODI is also active in empowering women and girls to have their say in the community and pursue alternative livelihoods.

The prize ceremony took place on November 17 in the Stuttgart Theatre House. Here you can read more on the Stuttgart Peace Prize.