WASHINGTON
Thirty Israeli and Palestinian youth basketball coaches will engage each other at scheduled events in the U.S. later this month, the State Department said Tuesday.
During the 14-day program, the coaches, along with their American peers, will engage in "workshops with an emphasis on conflict resolution, sports management, and leadership, and participate in basketball and mentorship programs with American youth," according to a State Department statement.
The State Department’s sports diplomacy program will allow participants to interact with students at local elementary and high schools in Washington, New York City, and Stamford, Connecticut from Oct. 5–19.
“Upon returning home, the coaches will continue to play a leadership role within the PeacePlayers International organization, Middle East division, as trained coaches and mentors, sharing their experiences with hundreds of local children and working together to create social change in their communities," the statement read.
PeacePlayers International, a non-profit organization founded on the premise that “children who play together can learn to live together,” is partnering with the U.S. government to implement the program.
The exchange program is the climax of a two-year in-country project led by American athletes and educators working toward the professional development of a group of Palestinian and Israeli coaches who will work together through sports.
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