Empowering Young Women Through Sports in Nablus

Hi, I'm Alma, and I'm 12 years old. Two years ago, I joined Tomorrow’s Youth Organization (TYO). I have lots of hobbies, like making accessories, learning English, and going for long walks. But my favorite hobby  is football, even though some people say girls my age can't play it.

I have always dreamt of playing football, especially after watching my favorite team, FC Barcelona on TV. Even though my hero, Messi, left the team, he's still my favorite. I wanted to be like him, scoring goals and winning games for my team. 

I thought,'Why not me? Why can't I be a great football player too? Luckily, TYO started offering football training for girls. I jumped at the chance and signed up. I met other girls who love football just like me, and we had 2 amazing coaches: Lucy and Caroline. They taught us everything about playing and encouraged us a lot.

Now, with the support of my friends and the opportunity to train, I feel like I'm getting closer to my dream. Having a football field at TYO where I can play is super cool because there aren't many spaces like this in my city. The current fields are almost always booked for boys’ soccer and have limited slots for girls’ teams.  I dream of playing for my country's national team or even for FC Barcelona someday. I found out that there's an awesome women's football team in Barcelona, and there's a very talented player named Alexia Putellas.

My advice to all girls out there is simple: go after your dreams. Don't let anything stop you. I never thought I could play football, but here I am, on my way to making my dream come true with TYO’s help. So, believe in yourself, chase your dreams, and watch as amazing things happen.