Mbuji Mayi, 28 February 2012 - The United Nations Integrated Office in Kasai Oriental, with support from the Rotary Club of Mbuji Mayi, organized a soccer tournament on 23 February to raise awareness among the youths of this province about the values of peace. With the theme of "Peace through service", the event was organized as part of the celebration of Rotary International's Global Understanding and Peace Day.

A total of twelve teams competed in this tournament during the month of February, with players hailing from different institutions, including the provincial government, state-owned and private enterprises, universities, as well as the United Nations system. By participating in this sport event, they all helped to send a message of peace to the population. The United Nations also took the opportunity provided by this event to strengthen its relations with the most important entities in Mbuji Mayi.

The World Understanding and Peace Day, on 23 February, was celebrated with the final match of the tournament, followed by a cultural evening with multilingual poetry recitals on the theme of peace, aimed at promoting cultural integration as a bedrock for peace.

Yahaya Issaka Balima, the Coordinator of the United Nations Joint Office, stated that the UN and the Rotary movement share the same values of peace. "Peace through service, the theme for the Day, simply means that everyone from their own level can contribute to peace consolidation", he said.

Esther Ndalafina / MONUSCO