A goal closer to a brighter future for Palestinian youth in Jenin
JERUSALEM-WESTBANK-GAZA - Shouts and cheers from the crowd at Jenin’s new soccer field resonated more than competitiveness at the recent grand opening; voices of young and old reflected hope for a future filled with possibilities. This is more than just a soccer field, it is a way of assisting Palestinian youth to achieve their visions of future peace and prosperity.
Made possible by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Palestinian Football Association, the Palestinian Authority, and World Vision, the Palestinian Youth Vision Soccer Field focuses on helping young people to experience life in all its fullness, the opportunity to pursue their dreams and reach their goals.
The Palestinian Youth Vision Soccer Field focuses on helping young people to experience life in all its fullness, the opportunity to pursue their dreams and reach their goals
For the people of Jenin, the opening of this new soccer field was one of the most celebrated events in soccer this year. Attended by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and other important members of the community, this was one event that celebrated the positive impact that something as simple as a game of soccer can have on children’s lives.
“Lessons such as the importance of team work, to put aside personal ambition for the sake of a greater purpose, that achievement is the result of hard work, the value of playing with honour and integrity and to respond correctly to both the sweetness of victory and the bitterness of defeat… These lessons are critical for success in life. Not only is it desirable for every child to have the opportunity to learn these critical lessons it is the right of every child,” said Alex Snary, National Director for World Vision Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza.
The opening ceremony of the soccer field kicked off with a short procession by various soccer team members, young boys in soccer uniforms, as well as graduates from nearby schools. Small girls, with long, dark hair, dressed in traditional Palestinian, hand-embroidered gowns circled the soccer field, holding up flags of the Palestinian Olympic Union for Soccer, as well as Palestinian flags. Balloons held during the ceremony were later released into the sky, decorating the skyline with dots of red, black, white, and green, to the excited cries of children in the field and in the crowd.
Following a short introductory speech, key members of the community, government, and World Vision National Director, Alex Snary, spoke about the importance of this soccer field to the people of Jenin, and the importance of sport in the lives of children. Palestinian Authority Governor Qadura thanked World Vision Australia for its help in achieving this goal, which before seemed almost an impossible task.
This was one event that celebrated the positive impact that something as simple as a game of soccer can have on children’s lives
In his speech, the Head of the Olympic Committee and the Head of the Palestinian Union for Soccer stated, “Jenin deserves this, and even more than this. I think that sport in Palestine deserves proof of its place, to show how important it is to the Palestinian people.”
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad spoke of three important issues, in the context of the soccer field. The first was that this soccer field was able to be constructed in Area C, where permits to work and build are virtually impossible to obtain. Secondly, the international community had come together and supported this project. Thirdly, and more importantly this field was an indication of the trust of the people, that they maintained their hope for a future state. That “in spite of all the struggles and problems, this soccer field showed the struggles and never-ending hope of the Palestinian people for a future with a free country.”
Following the official opening the opposing teams of Jenin and Jabal Al Mukabar contested on the playing field of the soccer field. The crowd, seemingly shy for the first two minutes of the game, broke out in enthusiastic cheers and shouts of encouragement and advice to the players on the field. Children laughed happily, and a middle-aged man, clanging two metal Arabic coffee cups together in a bell-like sound, patiently circled the crowd, selling Arabic coffee, poured into small, pink, plastic cups to the spectators.
While watching the game and looking around proudly at what had been achieved, World Vision’s Northeast Jenin Area Development Programme (ADP) Manager, Majdi Daibes, passionately explained what this soccer field really meant. “This will facilitate the three Jenin ADPs’ activities for the next fifteen years. Most importantly, this soccer field will have the greatest impact on children.”
Every day around the world thousands of individuals, communities, people groups and nations extend the hand of friendship, tolerance and peace across ethnic, religious, national and international boundaries to engage in peaceful competition
One man in the crowd, Houssam Nasser, sat with his son Mohammad. Smiling, Houssam said, “Of course we are happy about the soccer field! This is the second soccer field in the north of Jenin. The other is located in the Jenin governorate, but it is nothing close to anything on this scale!” His son, Mohammad, shyly shared that the game played on the new soccer field was, “Much nicer than watching it on TV. My favourite thing about football is the game. Here, I support the Jenin team, but my favourite team in the world is Barcelona.”
As mentioned in Alex Snary’s speech, “in the International Convention on the Rights of a Child, it is stated that the state entities have a responsibility for ‘The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.’ Around the world, sport is the most powerful means to achieve this. Every day around the world thousands of individuals, communities, people groups and nations extend the hand of friendship, tolerance and peace across ethnic, religious, national and international boundaries to engage in peaceful competition.”
The game was tied later that day for the teams of Jenin and Jabal Al Mukabar, but for the crowd there that day, this soccer field was a victory for all. To many, this was the first step in making the development of young people a priority. For the people of Jenin and the Palestinian people in general, this soccer field meant that the future of their children might prove to be brighter than their own history.