The Human and Social Sciences Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the National Commissions for Education, Science and Culture in Mauritania, Pakistan, Malaysia and the Comoros Islands, to discuss arrangements for launching the ICESCO initiative to rehabilitate street children through football in these countries.

The meeting, which was held via videoconference, was attended by Mrs. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector at ICESCO, and the Sector’s work team, while the countries benefiting from the initiative were represented by Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary General of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; Mr. Junaid Akhlaq, Secretary-General of the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO; Mr. Hizrul bin Ali and Mr. Muhammad Nazif bin Muhammad Noor from the Malaysian Ministry of Education, and Mr. Muhammad bin Ali, ICESCO’s delegate in Comoros.

In her intervention, Mrs. Ramata Almami Mbaye stressed that ICESCO aims, through this initiative, to use sport as a powerful and effective tool to enhance child protection, education, rehabilitation, peace-building and contribute to building the capacities of vulnerable groups, noting that football tournaments, training sessions, physical activities and games contribute significantly to social integration and cohesion, combating violence, promoting tolerance and creating safe spaces for street children.

During the meeting, the participants stressed that this initiative constitutes an opportunity to support street children aged between 7 and 17 through football, and to instill in them the values of leadership and social skills to motivate and inspire them and contribute to a creating brighter future.