UNHCR and British School in Baku support football tournament for refugee and local schoolboys

The tournament was initiated and financed by the British School Baku with the support of the UNHCR Representation in Azerbaijan and the Baku Education Department. The project intended to reinforce favourable hosting environment and promote successful social and cultural integration prospects for refugees in the country.

“UNHCR highly values this initiative which brings together refugee children with the local community and fosters an environment of tolerance, understanding and solidarity” said Mr. Furio De Angelis, UNHCR Country Representative.

The two mini-football teams, consisted of teenage boys from Afghan, Chechen and Iranian refugee communities residing in Baku, undertook the play offs along with the children from public secondary schools #177, #212 and #82, as well as from the private ones like the British School in Baku and the Modern School. All twelve members of the two refugee teams were awarded with football kits by the British School in Baku at the final ceremony of the tournament.

The UNHCR Country Representative Mr. Furio De Angelis, the Principal of the British School in Baku Ms. Maxene Whittingham, as well as teachers, schoolchildren and parents, including those from refugee families, watched the final matches.

UNHCR established its presence in Azerbaijan in late 1992 and has been supporting the Government in protecting and assisting over one million refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs in the country. The organisation attempts to ensure that all its persons of concern enjoy their rights and have an opportunity to contribute the economic, social and cultural life of the society in Azerbaijan.