In a recent “Sports-run day event”, ACTED used sports and recreational activities to open the dialogue among the Jordanian youth on important topics, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender based violence (GBV).

On a sunny September day, more than 300 people gathered in Al Karameh Stadium in Amman to participate in the activities organised by ACTED, in the hope of raising awareness on SRHR and GBV. Games, sport races, music and short comic representations took place throughout the afternoon, creating a friendly atmosphere and enabling an open dialogue as well as the dissemination of informative messages on these sensitive issues.

The peer educators, trained to spread information on SRHR topics helped with the implementation of the activities, and stimulated a certain sense of creativity and enthusiasm among the participants. Two youth peer national trainers from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) were also present to help the young peer educators to pass on information in an interactive and culturally sensitive manner.

The presence of the national basketball player, Ayman Dais, and young basketball star Ahmed Eidelat further contributed to the success of the event. Ayman Dais managed to successfully build a link between sports and sexual and reproductive health, highlighting the benefit of regular exercise and guiding the Jordanian youth towards relevant information.

The day ended with a speech from the ACTED Project Manager and from the peer educators on SRHR and GBV in Jordan and on their experience in raising awareness among their peers and in communities. The peer educators then turned on the music and encouraged the audience to join them in dancing. This event left the ACTED team optimistic about the messages they had been able to spread and about their future involvement in improving the situation with regard to SRHR and GBV in Jordan.