Sport changing lives for young Syrian refugees

Online youth sport leadership  courses delivered by YST International expert trainers has supported young male and female Syrian refugees aged 14-18 years living in Beirut, Lebanon to progress to become junior cricket coaches themselves.  Weekly sessions focussed on a range of topics including effective communication, being an inspirational role model, safe use of space and equipment and how to adapt activities to suit different levels of ability.  Undaunted by challenges such as frequent breaks in electricity supply, loss of internet connection and translation from English to Arabic, all the young people took part with enthusiasm and quickly developed coaching, mentoring, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.  Living in a camp where access to education is limited, boys face child labour and girls early marriage, they have truly become Young Changemakers, changing long held attitudes in their community, advocating for better opportunities for girls and supporting social cohesion.  

There is now a thriving cricket programme run by Alsama Cricket, which supports over 400 players in 10 hubs across Lebanon, providing weekly sessions, enabling competition to take place and links to be formed with the outside world.  It is one of many programmes organised by the Alsama Project based in Shatila Refugee Camp, which educates refugee children and empowers refugee women, offering them new horizons.  Alsama means ‘sky’ in Arabic

With your help Youth Sport Trust International will expand our support for Alsama Cricket and improve the lives of more young refugees through sport. THANK YOU