School of Tolerance

The central goal of MTG United for Peace is to promote peace, football being an excellent example of how to interact in a peaceful manner. Football can teach the children about team spirit, understanding tolerance, fairness and adherence to the rules. At the same time it helps them understand the importance of integration, cultural diversity and anti-racism.

That the MTG United for Peace Cup Final takes place in conjunction with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is no coincidence. Our aim is help children draw parallels between playing together peacefully on a football pitch; despite language barriers, differences in nationality, background and beliefs, and the message of the Nobel Peace Prize.

To further reinforce the importance of cultural understanding, integration and tolerance, all the children at the finals in Oslo are educated at the School of Tolerance held at the Nobel Peace Center. The course is an informal, interactive way to teach them tolerance towards their peers and conflict management skills by discussing the conflicts they encounter in their everyday lives and how to resolve them through verbal communication. To promote teamwork and the use of verbal communication to overcome problems, the children take part in team building exercises, such as how to build the highest tower together without it toppling over.

The children also get the chance to learn about the Nobel Prize Laureates of the past and the present through the many interactive tools at the Nobel Peace Center, hopefully reinforcing not only the message of peace, but also the idea that anything is possible and we can all make a difference in this world. And with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize winner taking place while the children are there, we hope the children feel they are all part of the greater good.