This initiative seeks to promote physical and mental well-being, enhance social integration, and foster a sense of community among participants. By utilizing the power of football, the project aims to empower boys and girls, and provide them with opportunities for growth, enjoyment, and personal development.
The “Football for All” program aimed to provide a safe and inclusive space for boys and girls, specifically refugees in Lebanon, to engage in football activities. This initiative seeks to promote physical and mental well-being, enhance social integration, and foster a sense of community among participants. By utilizing the power of football, the project aims to empower boys and girls, and provide them with opportunities for growth, enjoyment, and personal development.
What are the goals behind the project?
SARU established safe spaces for 24 children’s football teams, (12 girls’ teams and 12 boys’ teams) 6 players each, from 12 refugee camps in Al Bekaa, Lebanon. The children participated in football activity free from discrimination, violence, and exploitation. We implemented child protection measures and ensured the presence of trained staff or volunteers to provide a secure environment for the participants.
The football activities had a positive impact on the mental health of refugees. It offered a distraction from the challenges of camp life and helped reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The enjoyment and excitement of playing football contributed to increased happiness, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being.
Challenging Traditional Gender Roles
Establishing girls football teams was challenging because of the deep-rooted cultural norms and traditional gender roles . To solve this problem SARU adopted a strategic approach to gender perspective, taking into account the social and cultural norms and traditions in order to achieve a
better participation from girls in the programme. SARU team visited girl participants’ caregivers and talked to them about the benefits of these activities, we also conducted focus groups with local actors and discussed the girls’ participation importance and the approach we have to keep the girls safe. We also had the community acceptance, trust, and readiness to collaborate based on previous experience conducting activities in Al Bekaa camps.
We still receive calls from adults and youth in these camps to take action, assist them and provide similar activities.
During “Football for All”, the children felt happy, with less fear and anger than they felt outside the project. And when this emotional state remained over time, even though it was only for a few hours a week, a child’s overall mood got better.