Balkh: A local educational institution on Thursday organized a sports event for children in northern Jawzjan province to advocate for peace in the country. The contestants lamented that war has caused their backwardness.

Children under 12 years of age were the participants of a sports competition organized by Lincoln Educational Center in Shiberghan city, the provincial capital. 

At least 30 children, both boys and girls, took part in a 500 meters-long race and only five winners received prizes. 
The minors asked the warring parties to put an end to the insecurity and violence so that the war-ravaged Afghan people could heave a sigh of relief.

Speaking to Afghan Peace Watch (APW), the children voiced their concern about insecurity, saying it affected their studies and future.

Atiqullah Youlchi, the Lincoln Educational Center’s in-charge, said his students wanted to promote a message of peace through the competition, adding “the children have realized that war is a terrible phenomenon.” 

This comes as Afghan people have been enduring war and insecurity for the past 40 years, during which many children have been victimized, orphaned, and rendered homeless.