SYRIA HAS BEEN AT WAR SINCE 2011. MORE THAN 1,660,000 PEOPLE HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBOURING JORDAN. DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE CRISIS, THE SITUATION IN JORDAN IS TENSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY, WHERE LIVE AROUND 90% OF ALL REFUGEES. THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES CAUSED BY THE WAR AND DISPLACEMENT HAVE LEFT SERIOUS SCARS ON THEM.
SA4D and its local partner organisation Al Bireh use sport and play to help people overcome their trauma, rebuild/foster social cohesion and cope better with everyday life. The focus is on football.
ADDRESS WAR RELATED TRAUMA WITH FOOTBALL
The project, which started in 2020, aims to promote the psychosocial well-being of 1000 Jordanian and Syrian children and adolescents through football. Recreational structures are (re)established so that participants from different backgrounds can play football or participate in other sport and play-based activities. By sharing the same space and playing together, they get to know each other better, create social bonds and friendships. This helps them overcome feelings of mistrust and build trust in each other. Furthermore, the playing field creates a safe space for the participants to regain self-confidence and deal with their emotions. Through awareness sessions, the children and youth acquire relevant life skills and discuss issues that affect them (trauma, violence, peace building, etc.).
AMBASSADORS FOR PEACE
Building life skills and having positive experiences with people from diverse backgrounds is especially important in dealing with trauma, but it is also key in restoring social cohesion, respect and preventing conflict. The children and adolescents thus become ambassadors for peace in the long term.