The panel, which included a keynote from Regional UNHCR Deputy Representative Dr. Nadjia Hafsa and an introduction by LIV Golf Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Burian, highlighted how these projects have been successfully integrated into community centers, schools, and refugee camps across six pilot countries over the past twelve months.<\/p>\n
Taleb Salhab, UNHCR\u2019s Chief of Private Sector Partnerships & Philanthropy in the MENA Regin, emphasized the strategic nature of the collaboration: \u201cThis is a critically important one-of-a-kind global partnership in sport. Golf helps bring communities together and build valuable skills amongst refugees. We hope at the end of the three years, we will see the impact of this partnership and will have laid the foundation to scale this all over the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A central pillar of this lasting infrastructure is the development of a first-of-its-kind \u2018Golf Protection Toolkit\u2019. This replicable guide allows local leaders to implement trauma-informed sport programming independently, a move Stephen Reynard, UNHCR\u2019s Global Head of Sport, described as vital during the current global humanitarian funding crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support from LIV Golf is helping us provide lifesaving services to the people we serve,\u201d said Reynard. \u201cWe’re in the process of rolling out a golf toolkit with golf-inspired games to offer refugees a healthy distraction, some of whom have lived through traumatic experiences after being forced to flee from their homes. This partnership is really unlocking the power of golf for refugees around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
A broadcast clip from the panel discussion and the joint UNHCR x LIV Golf video, showcasing the work completed during the partnership’s first year, can be viewed here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n