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Peru: Alianza Lima, UNHCR renew their commitment to refugees

Photo: Courtesy of UNHCR

Photo: Courtesy of UNHCR

14:52 | Lima, Jun. 23.

Peruvian soccer club Alianza Lima and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Thursday reaffirmed their willingness to continue working together in order to promote the integration of refugees and migrants in Peru through sport.

Alianza Lima's Administration and Finance Manager Patricia Berenguel and UNHCR Representative in Peru Federico Agusti met to define the plans that will be developed this year within the framework of the agreement that both entities signed for the first time in 2020.

"We are really excited to continue this joint effort to support integration and diversity. Alianza Lima —a club of all races and with strong popular grassroots— understands the situation of refugees and, therefore, it will continue to work alongside UNHCR to achieve their integration into society," Berenguel stated.

"We renew our commitment to Alianza Lima, to the Club's values such as passion, inclusion, self-improvement, and teamwork. Alianza is a living example of the positive impact of sport and of how soccer can be a fundamental tool for refugees —regardless of their origin— to integrate into their host countries," Agusti commented.

As part of the joint actions planned for this year, Alianza Lima will strengthen existing projects in favor of refugees and migrants in the country, across all teams within the club, including sports academies for boys, girls and young people.

Thus, the club will provide young refugees and migrants with sports scholarships to attend its soccer academies.

Moreover, it will continue to promote the professional capacities of Venezuelans at its soccer and volleyball academies for men and women.

For its part, UNHCR will provide awareness-raising training for coaches and the club staff. In addition, it will organize awareness-raising activities for Peruvian and Venezuelan girls and boys.

(END) NDP/JSO/RMB/MVB

Published: 6/23/2022