To mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Belgian NGO Play4Peace is launching the very first edition of its “Sport and Culture” forum in Rabat, an event that aims to explore how both can serve as powerful tools for personal and professional growth among young people. Held under the high patronage of King Philippe of Belgium, this groundbreaking gathering reflects a shared ambition: to use sport and culture as foundations for building a brighter, more inclusive future for the next generation.
The forum, hosted at the Hiba Foundation—Rabat’s hub for civic and artistic engagement—is being organized in collaboration with key partners from both Belgium and Morocco. Among them are the Moroccan Council for the Community Abroad (CCME), the Belgian Embassy in Morocco, and the Hiba Foundation itself. Together, they are working to create a space not only for dialogue, but for real, actionable solutions aimed at empowering youth, especially those from underprivileged neighborhoods often left behind by mainstream development policies.
What sets this forum apart is its mission to move beyond conversation and toward collaboration. It builds on the deep historical ties between Belgium and Morocco, forged over decades of migration and shared human experiences, to forge new pathways toward social and economic inclusion. The initiative aligns closely with Morocco’s National Integrated Youth Program, which seeks to become a springboard for high-impact projects across sectors such as education, employment, civic participation, arts, and athletics.
Since its founding in 2014, Play4Peace has reached more than 20,000 young people worldwide. Its founder, Aymen Ramdani, was recently honored by King Philippe with the title of Commander of the Order of the Crown, a recognition of his outstanding dedication to youth empowerment through sport and culture.
With the launch of “Play4Peace Morocco,” the organization is expanding its efforts to meet the specific socio-economic challenges facing Moroccan youth. The goal is as ambitious as it is essential: to improve access to education, arts, and athletics, while promoting active citizenship and helping young people find a foothold in the job market.
This forum isn’t just another event—it represents a pivotal moment in the growing partnership between Morocco and Belgium. Grounded in shared values of solidarity, social justice, and commitment to youth, it signals a long-term vision where sport and culture become key drivers of change.
At a time when the world is shifting rapidly and young people are searching for meaning and opportunity, this initiative offers more than just hope. It offers a roadmap—and a promise—to invest in their creativity, believe in their potential, and help unlock the doors to a better future.
