“Al Amal Program Brings Hope and Mental Health Support to Girls in Gaza” – Free to Run

Gaza, October 2025 — In April 2025, Free to Run, in partnership with Palestine Sports for Life (PS4L), launched the Al Amal program in Gaza. “Al Amal,” meaning “hope” in Arabic, provides mental health support for adolescent girls and young women, helping them build resilience amid ongoing conflict and trauma.

Early sessions have already reached over 300 girls and young women, offering them a safe space to process trauma and regain a sense of control. Alaa, a participant from Khan Younis, shared, “Yoga helped me feel like I have a space just for me, even if everything around me feels unstable. After every session, I felt lighter.”

The program specifically targets communities in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, where many participants are living in temporary tents due to repeated displacement. Sessions are held twice a week for 60–90 minutes, combining movement such as yoga and strength training with practical mental health activities, including stress management, anxiety reduction, and self-regulation techniques.

The program builds on Free to Run’s Omid program in Afghanistan, which has supported young women under the Taliban since 2021. Al Amal adapts these trauma-informed practices to Gaza’s unique context, addressing critical gaps in mental health services for adolescent girls, who often face stigma and limited mobility

Physical activity in the program supports psychosomatic resilience, releasing biological responses such as serotonin and endorphins that reduce stress and anxiety. The social and personal challenge of movement further enhances self-confidence and emotional well-being.

Despite ongoing security concerns, displacement, and limited internet access, the program continues whenever it is safe, with families reporting noticeable improvements in well-being. One mother said her daughter, previously unable to speak due to trauma, had begun interacting more with her family after attending several sessions.

Free to Run and PS4L remain committed to adapting program delivery to ensure adolescent girls and young women in Gaza can access these essential safe spaces and psychosocial support, even in the midst of conflict.