Empowering Young Women Through Sports in Nablus

Girls in Nablus are not generally encouraged to play sports. Due to cultural norms and limited resources, they don’t find many opportunities or the support to do physical activities at large. Observing this reality, last year, International Interns at TYO started a Girls Soccer Program. 

However, the most recent escalation of violence has put the program on pause. “I still love playing. Every chance we get, we ask our teacher at TYO to let us go to the field. But, honestly, I’m afraid I’m forgetting the skills I learned,” Alma, one of the participants throughout last year’s program, shared.

The program offered girls a safe space for playing sports, discovering their abilities, developing healthier habits, improving wellness, and socializing. “They were completely new to soccer and sports in general. They didn’t have any background in individual or team sports,” one of the Summer 2023 interns recalled. 

So they started with the basics. Twice a week, they gathered in TYO’s soccer field to practice drills, improve their fitness, test their limits, score goals and have fun. The program gave these girls a space to be themselves, to make friends, and to step outside their daily realities for a while, finding new ways of coping. 

Their development was remarkable and their motivation increased as weeks went by. Individually, we witnessed their progress on and off the field: “When I’m active, it’s easier to focus on my studies,” Mayar, 8th grade. As a group, they forged new bonds and made new friendships. “Before there was a lot of competition, jealousy, and bullying even. By working on teamwork skills, they became supportive of each other,” interns said.

The impact of sports in the daily lives of these girls carried on. When we interviewed Mayar in March, she highlighted how much she misses practicing. Her message also reflected how sports are helping them cope with the toughest of times. By staying active, she is finding a way to also stay positive and support her teammates on and off the field.

The Girls Soccer Program taught them physical skills, but also lifelong lessons. Your contribution is essential for TYO to continue the program and expand its impact. Together, we are breaking down barriers to girls sports in Palestine, empowering them to become healthier, more confident, and more resilient women.