WE PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN ALSO THROUGH THE ACCESS TO SPORT
WE PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN ALSO THROUGH THE ACCESS
TO SPORT
The “B.R.A.C.E – Beirut Rehabilitation of Recreational Area for Children and Equality” project aims at enhancing child protection and social cohesion in vulnerable areas of Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon, by providing access to a safe and secure playground for children, where they can play, have fun, engage in sports and recreational activities and interact with members of different communities (refugee, migrant, host). Funded by the UEFA Foundation, the project is in cooperation with the area’s municipality and a local organisation, and has supported the construction of a new playing field for the community of the Barja municipality.
ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO PLAY SPORT SAFELY
The current deterioration of the economic crisis in Lebanon puts children and youth at greater risk of abuse, violence and exploitation. According to the recently published Emergency Response Plan, there is a growing trend of increasing protection needs among Lebanese and migrant children. This creates risks of social tensions among different communities based on their perceptions of access to available services. The Child Protection sector in Lebanon reports increased needs for psychosocial support services for children and youth. Additionally, there are growing numbers of children engaged in child labour. Due to the closure of schools during the COVID-19 restrictions and the deterioration of the economic crisis, many children from Syrian refugee communities, but also Lebanese and migrants, are engaged in child labour to support their families in gaining income to allow meeting basic needs. Children have the right to play and be simply children. Access to sport guarantees more opportunities for a child’s future. Sport is a universal language and increases social cohesion among community members.
Thanks to the support of the UEFA Foundation, we have just completed the renovation of an abandoned playing field in Barja, near Beirut, to provide safe football and basketball courts and a playground that can be used by all communities, especially children and young people, for sports and recreation.
The inauguration of the playground in Barja.
Jamal and Ismael are eight and ten years old. They met while training at the UEFA Foundation-funded football camp in Barja, where the poverty rate increased as the economic crisis escalated in 2019. Before playing on the grass of a real field, both had only ever kicked a ball in the street, among the alleys and popular buildings. “Every day after school we run here to the field, for us it has become our second home. We never imagined we could play football, train and team up with our new friends,’ they tell us. Jamal plays in attack while Ismael is a midfielder. “Our favourite player is the Argentine Lionel Messi,” Jamal tells us, “and we also support the same team: Paris Saint Germain”. Since the rehabilitation work on the camp was completed in September, the two young players have not missed a single day of training. For them, going to the camp means dedicating time to growth, commitment, passion, and sociability which was previously difficult to find.
The Barja camp during ongoing rehabilitation work.