Sport changing lives for young Syrian refugees

From being an unknown sport when it was first introduced in 2018 to a few children in Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon, cricket is now enjoyed by hundreds of boys and girls across three different camps. Girls had no previous preconceptions about cricket and assume that  the game belongs to them as much as it belongs to the boys.    Although Alsama cricket teams are usually mixed gender, 256 girls in 26 teams recently took part in the Lebanon Women’s championship.  Talented young players like Shorouk Awad have progressed to become coaches as well. By providing online youth sport leadership training sessions, Youth Sport Trust International has supported Alsama to develop a cohort of young coaches, thereby expanding the reach of the cricket programme.

Sharouk describes how she comes alive as as a coach as well as a player.

‘I count down the days until the weekend when I can play cricket.  I love to be able to answer the questions of my team, and coach them in their training.’  

Other activities offered by Shatila include yoga, hiking, running and chess as well as music and art.  In fact Alsama have created an innovative curriculum to allow students to make up for years of lost education.  Hiking trips have given many students the opportunity to escape the dens, urban setting of the camp they live in to experience Lebanon’s beautiful natural landscapes and test their persistence, determination and strength, with some hikes being as long as 21km.

‘In hiking, I learned I should fight to achieve my dream against all odds.  I should do what I want, even if I am worn out or I am under the weather I should continue.’ Raghad

Alsama survives on donations.  Thank you for helping Youth Sport Trust International to continue our support for this amazing project and enhance the lives of refugee teenagers.