In September 2007, PUMA announced a long-term partnership with the British non-profit organization Peace One Day at Peace One Day’s gala hosted at London’s Royal Albert Hall. PUMA’s commitment was based on the organizations’ shared values such as inclusiveness, leadership, passion, and willingness to push boundaries. Filmmaker, Jeremy Gilley began Peace One Day (POD) as a film project to establish an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. In 2001 Peace One Day’s efforts were rewarded when the United Nations unanimously adopted the first-ever day of global ceasefire and non-violence on September 21st—Peace Day.
The first ‘One Day One Goal’ match was initiated during the January 2008 activities in Ghana. Through this collaborative initiative, PUMA and Peace One Day asked people around the world to play football on September 21st, with each match celebrating cooperation, unity and the power of football to bring people together in peace. The aim of the ‘One Day One Goal’ initiative is to encourage people to play football all over the world, whether in major stadiums, local pitches, in the streets, on the beach, in the office, at home… it doesn’t matter. 215 matches took place in countries across the globe in honor of the Day, many supported by PUMA-sponsored club teams and top talent.
“We support the aim of Peace One Day and want to make a contribution to the generation of global peace on one day,” said Jochen Zeitz, PUMA CEO and Chairman, “We are delighted to be a strong and long-term partner of this exemplary initiative.” To help raise visibility and awareness of Peace Day, PUMA launched the PUMA Peace One Day Football Collection, which was unveiled at the African Cup of Nations in January 2008. PUMA’s established relationships with its African football teams ensured this exciting football collection was seen on some of Africa’s leading players throughout the tournament. A portion of the profits generated by the collection were donated to Peace One Day. PUMA’s long-term goal is to source all products related to this collection in Africa.
As a direct result of Peace One Day’s campaign in 2007, parties in Afghanistan recognized Peace Day resulting in 1.4 million Afghanistan children being vaccinated against polio. In the past two years, 100 million people in over 200 countries were engaged in Peace Day activities and in 14 of those countries, efforts were targeted towards providing life-saving activities and medical services on the Day. PUMA has worked alongside Peace One Day since 2007 and has developed a Peace One Day collection of products available in stores in September to benefit the non-profit organization.
Through the puma.peace program, PUMA continues its support of the United Nations Global Cease-Fire Day and the non-profit organization that inspired it, Peace One Day. PUMA supported the Peace One Day documentary, which was filmed partly in Afghanistan with peace activist Jude Law and screened in major cities around the world including Cannes, London and New York. In 2008, we launched One Day One Goal, a global football movement that celebrated Peace Day with goodwill football matches played around the world, in many cases between communities previously in conflict. In its first year, the One Day One Goal campaign held over 180 peace games. Now in its third year of support puma.peace in partnership with One Day One Goal aim to see matches played in all 192 UN member states. puma.peace will continue to develop initiatives that promote and support peace across the globe.
Footage from One Day One Goal football match in Mozambique September 21, 2008
Footage from a One Day One Goal football match, September 21, 2008
For the second year running, PUMA–through the puma.peace program–will renew its pledge in support of global peace through the One Day One Goal Campaign 2009. As an emblem of PUMA’s commitment to fostering peace through sport, puma.peace will work with Peace One Day to bring people together in the spirit of positive play on soccer pitches across the world.
Keep checking back here at peace.puma.com for updates and schedules of play.
In support of Peace One Day and as a pledge to promote peace through goodwill matches played around the world on Global Cease-fire Day (“Peace Day”), Puma is proud to continue its relationship with this vital organization.
Stemming from the vision and efforts of filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, in 2001 the U.N. passed a resolution to establish September 21 as Peace Day. Last year, more than 100 million people in 192 countries participated in Peace Day activities.
As a major supporter of the organization Peace One Day, we are proud that Jeremy Gilley has been awarded the Inspirational Award at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin, on Monday February 9th for his documentary “The Day After Peace”. As a major initiative within our puma.peace program, this award demonstrates how important our commitment to Peace One Day is, and shows us all what we can do to make this world a better place.
When Jeremy Gilley had the idea 10 years ago that there could be peace, for just one day, every year, he would have never expected the success of today. He founded Peace One Day and made a film to explore and see if this idea could work, and whether people around the world really wanted it. The documentary is Jeremy’s personal story to date, captured on film, of an individual making a difference and committing to a day of Peace. This documentary has inspired 100 million individuals and school children to make a commitment towards peace. It also convinced Nato, the Taliban and the American Forces to hold a cease-fire for one day, allowing women and children to be vaccinated and immunized in Afghanistan.
Jeremy has shown us that anyone and everyone, can make a positive difference towards a more peaceful world. His commitment and efforts are an inspiration to all of us–whether our efforts are big or small. Jeremy’s film shows it’s worth it… and I ask you to also contribute whenever and wherever possible.
