The Play2Remember (P2R) football program in Rwanda uses football as a tool for peacebuilding, bringing together survivors, perpetrators, their families, and the wider community. It fosters interaction, collaboration, and reconciliation, helping to bridge divides and strengthen unity.  

Through Play2Remember, we aim to build trust, strengthen community cohesion, and foster meaningful connections among groups affected by conflict.  

Our football games incorporate Purposeful Play Kwibuka activities, designed to help participants reflect on the importance of remembering those who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. These sessions explore key questions: Why is remembrance important? What does it truly mean to remember? Who is responsible for ensuring that each generation passes on the message accurately and meaningfully? And how can lessons from the past help us build a more peaceful future?  

We believe that understanding history is essential to shaping a better world—for Rwanda and beyond.

Beyond reconciliation, P2R also seeks to tackle pressing social challenges, such as the rise of hate speech, discrimination against minorities, and genocide ideology. By uniting communities through football, we raise awareness of ongoing social and political polarization, which has profoundly impacted people across the region, particularly young people and women.  

Impact and Awareness  

P2R goes beyond raising awareness—it also provides direct support to those affected. We aim to raise funds for refugees, particularly victims of hate speech, who urgently need food, medical care, and shelter in Rwanda and the Great Lakes region.  

We align P2R with significant dates, such as the Kwibuka commemorations for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi (April 7th to July 19th), Genocide Prevention Day (December 9th), and International Peace Day (September 21st). Recognising that genocide often arises in times of war, we see football as a powerful defense against division and violence.  

Sport is a universal language that instills respect, resilience, and teamwork—qualities that are essential for both peacebuilding and daily life. In football, as in life, learning to accept both victory and defeat with grace fosters mutual understanding and cooperation.  

If you would like to organise a Play2Remember or AMAHORO One Day One Goal football event at your school, corporate company, or in your community, please contact us at info@ishamifoundation.org
Our community impact coaches will support you in delivering a well-organized and impactful event,

Other Activities

In Rwanda, we have launched innovative programs like Play For Hope: Rwanda, a collaborative initiative with Coaches Across Continents (CAC) and local community groups. Since 2014, we have been building a network that empowers communities to use football as a tool for social cohesion, nation-building, and improving the quality of life for all Rwandans. To date, the Play For Hope: Rwanda coaching program has trained over 1,000 local community coaches, leaving a lasting impact on thousands of children across the country. 

Similarly, the Sport for Peace Education project—led by Aegis Trust in collaboration with FHPU (now Ishami Foundation) and other sports organisations—has developed impactful activities that foster dialogue around the Genocide against the Tutsi. By integrating sports into peace education, this initiative promotes unity and social cohesion, encouraging active participation in reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts.