Inspired by the International Day of Peace decreed by the United Nations, Palms Solutions, the African Diaspora Global Initiatives, in collaboration with the African Community Leaders, introduced the Philadelphia African Cup of Nations for Peace (PACONP) to the city.                          

 

The commitment to use soccer as the way to bring our communities together to address some of our common issues took its baby steps from our collaboration with Philly Peace Day in 2012. Four teams were present including Sierra Leone, Mali and two teams from Liberia. The spirit of togetherness and care for each other using soccer as a common ground, grew to be known in 2013 as the " Philadelphia African Cup Of Nations for Peace(PACONP). 

 

 Since its inception in 2013, PACONP has become our annual African Sports Diplomacy, commemorating the UN International Day of Peace in the month of September. PACONP has so far brought soccer teams from more than 18 countries across the African continent, representing more than 20,000 immigrants in the city of Philadelphia. These teams are composed of players including but not limited to  the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mauritania, Niger, Liberia, Uganda, Morocco, Ghana, Sudan, and Burkina-Faso, Algeria, Tunis, Togo, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cameroon R.D Congo. Each tournament is thematically attached to the symbols of Peace, Positive Social Change, Acceptance, and Inclusion.  For instance

 

• In 2013 we played under the theme “One Continent, One Team, One Goal”

• In 2014 we played under the theme “One Team Against Ebola”

• In 2015, we are playing under the theme “Philadelphia African Health Cup”

 

Since  2013, Palms Solutions through PACONP is now the umbrella of 14 African countries which leaders meet to discuss, and seek the solutions to our commmon problems. PACONP is now a city wide soccer tounament with the greatest attendance among africans.

 

PACONP was the recipient of the Global Ambassador Award from Women campaign international (8/2013), and the Peace Warrior Award from the City of Philadelphia (9/2014). Moreover, PACONP Summer school program was featured in the Inquirer, as one of the best program in facilitating the immigrant immersion into the educational system of Philadelphia (8/2014).

 

Through PACONP,  Palms Solutions in collaboration with Penn Medicine, was able to help mobilize and to administer the flu vaccine to the African Immgrants, as well as fundraised to help fight against ebola.

 

PACONP was able to provide 27 computers to help empower women in the country of Eritrea(3/2015)