PS4L Celebrates Six Winning Schools of the Khutwa Programme, Promoting Gender Equality Through Sport

Ramallah, Palestine – 19 October 2026

Palestine: Sport for Life (PS4L) celebrated the six winning schools of the Khutwa Programme during a ceremony held today at Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque in Ramallah. The event recognised the schools’ efforts to promote girls’ and women’s participation, social inclusion, and gender equality through sport.

Supported by FRIEDA – the Feminist Peace Organisation, in partnership with PS4L, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the programme engaged 31 schools in developing initiatives that use sport to strengthen participation and social inclusion for girls and women in their communities.

During the ceremony, Assistant Undersecretary for Student Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Sadiq Al-Khadour, expressed his appreciation for the partnership and highlighted the educational value of sport, including its potential to address learning gaps and promote positive values and behaviours. He emphasised the importance of sustaining the initiative within schools and further developing school sports, thanking all partners, teachers, and teams involved in the programme.

Fathi Hababeh, Acting Director of Education at UNRWA, highlighted the importance of giving children opportunities to express themselves and feel safe. He noted that Khutwa encourages children to believe in the value of trying, particularly in the challenging circumstances facing Palestinian communities, while helping build lasting relationships and strengthen children’s self-confidence.

Tamara Awartani, Executive Director of PS4L, thanked all partners for their collaboration and reaffirmed the importance of investing in Palestinian children. She emphasised that sport is more than a recreational activity; it is a powerful tool for self-expression and for empowering teachers and counsellors to support children’s development and well-being. She also highlighted the programme’s achievements in reaching schools and students and creating meaningful opportunities for learning and inclusion.

Fida Freida, Programme Advisor for the West Bank at FRIEDA, praised the successful collaboration between the partners and recognised the dedication of teachers and school staff. She emphasised the programme’s positive impact on students and the importance of continuing and developing the initiative in the future.

The ceremony featured a cultural performance by students from Rawabi Academy and concluded with the recognition of the six winning schools, alongside the distribution of certificates and appreciation awards to participants and supporters.

Through Khutwa, PS4L and its partners continue to demonstrate how sport can contribute to more inclusive and supportive learning environments, empower girls and women, and help build stronger, more equitable communities across Palestine.