Whilst the role of sport for those working with refugees has become a recent area of academic analysis, these predominantly focus on the Global North (Spaaij et al. 2019). Drawing on participant observation and interviews with volunteers in Rwamwanja, this article critiques the role of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) projects that invariably use sport as a hook to engage participants. Focussing on games that promote play and encouraging fun are potentially beneficial for young inhabitants of refugee settlements. Unlike sport projects, which often have other aims or outcomes (such as education or health), play in and of itself is important. Play can open an imaginary world which can contribute to having fun and relaxation by helping young people in refugee settlements to stop worrying about the past or future and live wholly in the present. This reframes the focus of projects. Rather than focusing on specific outcomes, such as education or health, promoting fun through play can provide the foundations for these and other outcomes to develop.
Keywords: Refugees; fun; play; sport for development and peace; global south
