With support from the World Dodgeball Federation, PDRI is combining dodgeball, peacebuilding and digital skills to connect young people from refugee and host communities in Kenya.
Dodgeball is creating opportunities for young people in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei, Kenya, to play together, build friendships and strengthen connections across communities.
Led by Peace for Development Refugees Initiative (PDRI), the Dodgeball for Peace project combines regular sports training with peacebuilding, psychosocial support and digital education. In its September 2026 activity report, PDRI reports growth from four teams in June to five by September, with activities reaching Kakuma 1, Kakuma 2 and Kalobeyei.
The World Dodgeball Federation has supported this work through an equipment donation and assistance with transport, coach support and refreshments. Delivered in July, the equipment included boots, socks and cones. According to PDRI, many participants had previously trained without boots on dusty playing fields containing stones and thorns. The donation has helped players train more safely and with greater confidence.
Community interest has helped the project expand. In August, parents and community leaders in Kakuma 2 asked PDRI to introduce dodgeball in their area after seeing activities elsewhere. Experienced players visited to demonstrate the game and explain the rules, helping new participants begin their own training.
In Kalobeyei, a new team formed in September brought together young people from the Nuer and Anuak communities following a period of conflict. Supported by wider mediation efforts involving community leaders, NGOs and peace actors, the team offers a shared space for participants to work together and build trust through sport.
That work continues beyond the playing field. The project’s weekly programme combines three days of sports training with a day dedicated to peacebuilding and psychosocial support. Young people aged 13–17 take part in discussions about respect, communication and resolving conflict, while exploring how they can contribute to peace in their own communities.
As players develop their skills, friendly matches provide opportunities to put teamwork into practice. PDRI reports four friendly matches during the reporting period, including a match between Kakuma 1 and Kakuma 2 on 5 September in preparation for International Peace Day activities.
Digital learning adds another dimension. An ICT course launched in July introduces young players to basic computer skills, online safety and responsible use of social media, including ways to share messages of peace and unity. Former PDRI volunteer Aryan Garg helped establish the course, while Faulu Productions, particularly Lyama Amadi HB, provided laptops for training.
The project also draws on support from parents, community leaders and local organisations. Community-based organisation Rehori supplied sound equipment for an event in Kakuma 2, reflecting the wider community involvement behind the initiative.
PDRI is now preparing for a youth-led International Peace Day celebration in Kakuma on 21 September 2026, bringing together participants, families and community partners.
For WDBF, supporting Dodgeball for Peace is an opportunity to help more young people access the sport and the connections it can create. PDRI’s work shows how regular opportunities to play, learn and communicate can support a shared purpose: building trust through dodgeball.