My

Story

Remo

My name is Remo, and I arrived at the Rhino Camp refugee settlement in 2016. I had to flee my home country of South Sudan due to the ongoing violent conflict.

One of my main activities in this settlement is working with children, especially through sport. The older generation currently in charge of our country does not think about peace. One of the key drivers of the conflict in South Sudan is tribalism. This is deeply rooted in our culture and poses a major obstacle to peace. Tribalism leads to discrimination. People see members of their own tribe as their family, while outsiders are considered enemies. This sparks conflicts among the population and is one of the reasons why we have war back home.

The young generation, however, is our future, and soon they will be the leaders of South Sudan. My home country cannot be transformed by using guns, but by imparting knowledge and skills to our children, which can be achieved through sport as an educational tool. If we mentor and support them properly, they will become the force that can change South Sudan.

During the Young Coach Education, I learnt a lot, especially about communication with others. Thanks to this programme, I now understand that we are all one and that together we can achieve anything. This is what I want to spread among my fellow people when I can go back home. Once we overcome the boundaries we created between “us” and “them”, peace becomes not only possible but inevitable. This project has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to pass on that message.

I was also able to broaden my understanding of what football means and what it includes. I used to think that football was just about warming up, playing and that’s it. Now, I understand that football embodies much more. Football can involve education, inclusion, culture, singing, and so much more. These are the skills I am going to apply to coach the refugee children in my settlement.

In my opinion, sport is so powerful as it brings people together and fosters peaceful coexistence. There is no distinction between the refugee children in our settlement and the host community. If we separated our activities, it could potentially lead to another conflict. Therefore, we carry out all activities together, which unites us even more. We share everything among each other: food, water, and land. You can hardly differentiate between a Ugandan and a South Sudanese; here, we all live together.