Since the tragic events following October 7th, 2023, the Gaza Strip has been devastated by relentless bombardment, resulting in unimaginable loss and suffering. Over 40,000 Palestinians have perished, with more than 70,000 injured. The destruction has displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.2 million people, forcing them into overcrowded shelters, seeking refuge from the ongoing violence. Amidst this turmoil, the State of Qatar has provided sanctuary to over 2,000 wounded Palestinians and their families. Over 600 of these evacuees are children, many of whom require urgent medical care.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development and Family, the Palestinian Compound for Gazan evacuees has become more than just a medical refuge; it is now a haven where evacuee families find not only community but also begin the healing process through holistic psychosocial support.
Generation Amazing Foundation (GA) is on the ground, offering psychological support through the universal language of sports. Long committed to serving children, youth, and communities from conflict and post conflict areas, the foundation is spending time with the respective members of the community fostering a safe environment, where individuals can embark on their own journey of healing. Through, a wide variety of tailored programmes, children and youth are offered the opportunity to consider their own potential, despite the losses they have endured and the immense challenges they face.
The Power of Sports on the Journey of Healing Trauma
The roots of GA’s psychosocial support programme date back to 2021, when the foundation supported Afghan refugees in Qatar following their displacement. Through football training and community-building activities, GA nurtured a close relationship with the Afghan community to support an environment of healing and solidarity. Today, with the backing of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development and Family, GA is implementing a similar approach for the evacuees at the Palestinian Compound.
In partnership with Maktaba, GA has launched its psychosocial programme focused on resilience-building, promoting well-being, and fostering social cohesion. Through a combination of sports-for-development initiatives, structured football sessions, and creative arts activities, we aim to create a safe and supportive space for Gaza’s displaced youth and their families. These activities offer not only recreation but also essential tools for beginning the process of recovery and community building.
Programme Overview
At the core of GA’s psychosocial programme are children and youth. Football, with its universal appeal and ability to unite communities, serves as the foundation of the initiative. The programme has four key stages which are purposely designed to occur simultaneously, according to each participant’s level of readiness:
- Introduction and Integration (February 2024): Led by GA Master Coaches, our football activities offer children the chance to acclimatise to their new environment. Held twice a week, these sessions promote mutual understanding and social integration among the compound’s diverse population.
- Team Formation and Friendly Competition (Ongoing): GA Master Coaches facilitate football leagues promoting teamwork and encouraging healthy competition. The first tournament held in March 2024 demonstrated the transformative power of sport, rebuilding participants' self-esteem and encouraging camaraderie.
- Team Selection and Coach Empowerment: In alignment and complementing the ‘Friendly Competition’ stage, outstanding players have the opportunity to represent the Gaza Compound in local and international matches. At the same time, residents receive football coach training, supporting their journey to become leaders in their community.
- Sustained Training and Leadership Development (Ongoing): With newly trained coaches leading the way, weekly football sessions continue to foster community engagement and leadership, deepening the programme’s social impact.
Key Objectives
Generation Amazing’s programme is not just a sports initiative – it’s a pathway to rehabilitation and social cohesion. Key objectives include:
- Facilitating Rehabilitation: Sport programming serves as a tool to build a routine, supporting physical and psychological healing, offering participants a sense of normalcy amid the ongoing crisis.
- Promoting Core Values: Through sports, children and youth learn vital life skills and values such as teamwork, respect, and tolerance.
- Strengthening Community Cohesion: The programme unites young people from diverse backgrounds, helping build stronger community bonds and aiding them to consider their full potential.
- Community and Leadership Development: GA empowers residents by training them in sports coaching, equipping them to take on leadership roles and sustain the programme’s impact over time.
Events and Impact: Standing with the Community in Times of Crisis
GA’s psychosocial and well-being programme has already made a significant impact through a series of events and initiatives both on and off the pitch:
- Weekly Inclusive Football Training: Twice a week, GA organises regular football sessions for around 50 participants, split into two age groups: under 15 and over 15. These structured activities provide physical exercise, social interaction, and help maintain the psychological well-being of participants. The sessions are designed to be inclusive, accounting for the many residents who have lost limbs due to the bombardment in Gaza.
- Ramadan Football Championship (April 2024): This championship, involving 50 participants, brought the spirit of competition and community to life. The event helped build camaraderie among children from different backgrounds in the compound.
Training of Trainers (TOT) Course (April 2024): A three-day course nurtured the football coaching skills of 15 residents preparing them to lead future sports activities. - Psychosocial and Mental Health Training (April 2024): GA integrated its Sports Training Manual for Psychosocial Support into football sessions, with 40 residents actively participating. These sessions were led by the newly trained coaches and focused on providing practical strategies to manage trauma and promote mental health.
- Tatreez Group (April - September 2024): In collaboration with Maktaba, 40 female and male residents participated in Tatreez - traditional Palestinian embroidery. This initiative promoted cultural heritage while providing a therapeutic space for self-expression and social bonding.
- Summer Camps and Cultural Visits (July 2024): Field trips provided a reprieve from the trauma of displacement. Over 150 residents took part in various field trips organized by GA and Maktaba, aimed at broadening their horizons and providing fun, educational experiences. Participants included 35 children who visited Curiocity and KidsMondo, and 80 teens who explored Megapolis, a recreational centre.
- Trauma Writing Workshops (Ongoing): A group of 15 teens participated in a trauma-focused writing programme facilitated by GA and Maktaba. This initiative provides a safe space for creative expression and emotional processing, helping them better cope with the psychological effects of conflict and violence.
- Engagements with Prominent Figures: Visits from prominent figures, including the International Olympic Committee and public figure Omar Suleiman, engaged 25 to 30 children in sports activities, raising awareness internationally and motivating the young participants.
- Cultural Engagements: Regular activities and cultural trips, such as visits to the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, further enrich participants' experiences.
Looking Ahead: Building Resilience and Hope
Through the combined power of sports and psychosocial support, Generation Amazing's psychosocial programme at the Palestinian Compound harnesses the power of sport to support people on a journey of healing at a time of intense crisis. By addressing physical, mental, and social well-being of the displaced population, the programme aims to nurture a sense of belonging. Through continued support, GA aims to build hope, create routine, and provide stability amidst the ongoing trauma of displacement.
Generation Amazing's commitment to these individuals reflects its broader mission: using the transformative power of sport to heal, uplift, and build stronger, more cohesive communities in the face of crisis and disenfranchisement.
