12 August 2008

Maungdaw, Myanmar: Recognizing the ethnic tensions between youth in northern Rakhine, one UNV volunteer saw a way to begin to heal their divisions through the 'beautiful game' of football.

Northern Rakhine State (NRS) is among one of the most remote regions of Myanmar. Sometimes referred to as Arakan, it is located in the western corner, just below Bangladesh, and comprises three townships, Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathidaung.

Over 80 percent of the population in NRS are Rohingya Muslims with the rest mostly being Buddhist Rakhines. Although the Rohingya are generally integrated into Myanmar's culture, traditions and overall life, they also share a similar culture, language and religion with Bangladesh. The Myanmar Government does not consider the Rohingya to be Myanmar nationals, and they are often discriminated against by other groups.  

The antagonism between Rohingya and Rakhine youth in northern Rakhine State is especially marked. However, a chance encounter with young people in the town of Maungdaw gave UNV volunteer Primo Wusong and his colleagues an idea.

Mr. Wusong, who is originally from Sudan, elaborates: "Upon seeing me – a black African – almost all of them reeled off the names of black players at English football clubs, like Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor. So, taking advantage of the love young people here have for football, especially the English Premier League, my mission of forming a team and discussing the need to live and coexist together in harmony with themselves and nature was easier."

With the help of a national colleague from the World Food Programme (WFP) Maungdaw, Mr. Wusong got together 30 young men from the two ethnic groups and raised some money for T-shirts and balls. A fellow UNV volunteer, Mie Nakanishi from Japan, also participated in the teambuilding process from time to time. More colleagues from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also requested additional T-shirts and balls from sports equipment company Nike.

At first, two teams were formed, one with 15 Rohingya and the other with 15 Rakhine, but Mr. Wusong later decided to mix the ethnic groups. "Despite the initial difficulties of having to work and play together," he explains, "resentment was soon put aside and the two groups actually joined together and performed very well." Their matches even began to draw spectators, though currently they are without a suitable playing field.

The teams are about socialization as much as sport, and during picnics and tea shop meetings the UNV volunteers encourage the players to talk about ethnic reconciliation and also ways to solve environmental problems.

Mr. Wusong works with the World Food Programme (WFP) and organizes the team on a voluntary basis. He explains his personal motivation: "Upon my arrival in Maungdaw I was dismayed to see how people treated one another. Frankly, I had thought the Southern Sudanese were the most marginalized people on earth, but it turned out to be untrue."

He continues: "Having experienced the same situation myself in my home country, and knowing the only thing that could meaningfully unite us as youth in Sudan was football, I thought the same thing could also happen here."

The UNV volunteer sees bringing youth together in the football teams as a small but significant step towards healing the divide. "I can tell you that they are able to play and work together now, they can be seen in town moving together, and in the tea shops welcoming one another," says Mr. Wusong. "Actually, something real is happening here."