Empowering Through Sport: PS4L Transforms Lives in Gaza and the West Bank

Palestine: Sports for Life's mission is to prioritize the mental health and well-being of vulnerable and internally displaced people, including refugees, residing in the West Bank and Gaza. Through their comprehensive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, they strive to provide essential support and resources to those who need it most, utilizing sport as a tool for change. 

"At PS4L, we believe in empowering vulnerable communities through compassionate care and tailored support." 

PS4L’s three projects, MHPSS to Families and Children in the Gaza Strip, Khutwa - Safe Spaces, and Football for Equality and Education, supported by their partners Frieda, Swiss Solidarity, and UEFA Foundation, provide activities to over 20,750 young people and 1,000 mothers in Gaza and the West Bank.  

MHPSS to families and children in the Gaza Strip

PS4L’s MHPSS program, delivered in Gaza, has been instrumental in providing essential care and assistance to children and mothers facing adversity. Their team works to safeguard the mental health and well-being of those affected by the ongoing challenges in Gaza. Despite the ongoing war, activities still continue. ​ The team closely monitor the situation on ground and due to the dangers in Rafah, the activities are all now located in Khan Younis or Deir Al Balah. 

Through engaging activities including sport and games, coloring, and drawing, children are given a safe space to express themselves creatively and process their emotions. The provision of emergency kits, including books and clothes, hygiene kits, ensures that their basic needs are met during times of crisis, offering both practical support and emotional comfort. 

Khutwa: Safe Spaces 

PS4L’s Khutwa: Safe Spaces”​ ​project, delivered in the West Bank, offers hope and essential support for women and girls, offering them a nurturing environment to play, learn, grow, and find their career pathways. Beyond being physical locations for communities to come together, these Safe Spaces are sanctuaries to foster gender equality, empowering women and girls to express themselves freely and engage in activities that promote personal and professional development. Lessons are designed around a social topic such as inclusion, gender equity, education, through play, and are followed by a reflection round at the end. Through a focus on life skills, basic child rights, employment skills and financial education, participants gain the tools and knowledge needed to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience, as well as allowing them time away from the struggles of daily life to reflect on how they interacted with each other in the games and their learnings. 

All the changes brought a wave of positivity into my life. My mental health, once at rock bottom, saw a remarkable turnaround thanks to the safe space I visited every Sunday.  

This transformation rippled through my family, home, and relationships with my children. Confidence surged within me, and despite having only completed school until the 8th grade, I felt like I was someone extraordinary. Building trust, especially with my daughter, became a newfound strength. Now, we communicate openly, and I've even started implementing games to connect with my children at home.  

The safe space not only boosted my self-confidence but also empowered me to overcome the fears of starting my own project. Linda, Rana, and Maysoun played pivotal roles in transforming our well-being. Their impact was like shifting from the sky to the ground—solid and grounding.  

Through this journey, I forged new connections and friendships, a significant feat as I'm not from around here, making it initially challenging for me to make friends. From the depths of my heart, I express gratitude for the positive changes these experiences have brought on to my life.”

- Safe Spaces Participant 

Football for Equality and Education 

All children have the fundamental right to live, learn and play in a safe and stimulating environment; factors which have a big impact on their mental health and well-being. The goal of the Football for Equality and Education programme is to enhance the well-being of children and teenagers attending schools run by UNWRA (UN Agency for relief and human development of Palestinian refugees) in the Palestinian West Bank through sport and life skills activities. The programme provides an inclusive safe space where young girls, in particular, can play sports, while also accessing essential psychosocial support and development support in the agency’s schools.  At least 500 refugee children of different abilities, of which 70% are girls, are engaged and empowered through weekly football-based educational sessions on life skills and gender equality.