Sport for Syria: From Dialogue to Action

Wrestling for Peace at the Heart of Dialogue and Action in Amman

This January, Wrestling for Peace (W4P) was honored to join an extraordinary gathering in Amman, Jordan—the Sport for Peacebuilding in Syria: From Dialogue to Action conference hosted by Generations For Peace under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein. As W4P Executive Director, Dan Russell, stood among energetic global peace builders and sport-for-good advocates, it was clear that our W4P mission resonated deeply with the growing international “sports for peace” movement.

From the Mat to Meaningful Peacebuilding

Generations For Peace, the Jordan-based peacebuilding organization, has pioneered conflict transformation through sport, art, dialogue, and empowerment since 2007. Their work focuses on empowering young volunteer leaders to promote active tolerance, responsible citizenship, and sustainable peace in communities deeply affected by conflict.

The Sport for Peacebuilding in Syria conference united more than 150 participants—international and regional partners, Syrian civil society representatives, young leaders, and NGOs—with one bold objective: move from dialogue to action. Through plenary talks and co-creative workshop sessions, the event emphasized the role of sport as a practical and transformative tool for healing, resilience, and community rebuilding in Syria’s post-conflict landscape.

Listening, Learning, and Engaging

Dan Russell was deeply grateful for the opportunity not just to attend, but to listen and engage, because Wrestling for Peace believes that the wisdom of local leaders and lived experience must always guide intervention. As Syrian youth activists, practitioners from UNICEF, Olympic partners, and grassroots organizations shared about their trauma-informed programming, youth engagement, and partnerships for sustainable impact, we found alignment with our own philosophy: everyone wrestles—whether on the mat or in life—and everyone deserves a chance to belong and thrive. The diverse voices around the table reinforced our belief that the values at the core of wrestling—respect, resilience, and shared struggle—can be powerful catalysts for peace when carried into community programming.

Gratitude to Visionary Leadership

We extend our deepest respect and gratitude to HRH Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein and Generations For Peace for championing this initiative and advancing a vision where sport is not just about performance, but about peace and shared humanity. Prince Faisal’s leadership in leveraging sport to build trust and foster recovery continues to inspire all of us working at the intersection of sport and social change.

We are also sincerely thankful for the leadership and presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha bint Faisal, whose commitment to youth sport and peacebuilding continues to elevate this work; and to Lama Al Hattab, Executive Director of Generations For Peace, whose stewardship and dedication to action grounded the conference in both compassion and impact. Their leadership embodies what it means to move from vision to meaningful change.

Purpose Beyond the Podium

At Wrestling for Peace, we often speak about Purpose Beyond the Podium, and sitting in that conference hall, surrounded by peacebuilders and practitioners committed to real outcomes, our purpose felt more real and more urgent than ever. The sport of wrestling embodies the struggle through discipline and mutual respect—and these same principles can help communities redefine conflict, rebuild trust, and reclaim agency.

We are excited to explore meaningful opportunities in the Middle East, learning from local leaders and peacebuilders to ensure that any work we engage in is culturally rooted and focused on long-term well-being. Whether through sport-for-peace workshops, youth leadership programs, or community-based learning exchanges, we are committed to wrestling for good—and wrestling for peace.

Looking Forward

Wrestling for Peace Ambassadors are learning more each day about how sport can chart a path from conflict to cohesion. We continue to listen, partner, and build—not for titles and trophies, but for impact that transcends the award stand. Because in the end, everyone wrestles, and when we bring the values of wrestling to the world’s toughest challenges, we move closer to peace.

We are wrestling for good.
Wrestling for Peace.