What began as a bold idea in 2021 has blossomed into a trailblazing sports initiative inside the Aida refugee camp, near Bethlehem. A girls’ football team, launched by Aida Youth Club and the Udd Sports Union, has grown into a powerful symbol of empowerment, resilience, and change in one of the most under-resourced communities in Palestine.
Over five years of continuous training and perseverance, the team has expanded to include more than 40 young female players. They have participated in friendly matches across the Bethlehem governorate, taking on girls’ teams from neighbouring towns like Beit Sahour, Al-Ubeidiya, and other local clubs.
During a recent training session on the Aida Youth Club pitch, Muhannad Abu Srour, the sports programme coordinator at the center and Udd Union, explained how the initiative took root.
“The idea was born in 2021 out of a deep belief in the importance of female participation in all sectors, particularly within refugee camps where such opportunities are rare,” he said. “It was the first time a girls’ football team was established in Aida Camp—perhaps even in any Palestinian refugee camp.”
After years of training, the team achieved a significant milestone: three players were selected to join the Palestinian national team and competed in the 2024 West Asian Football Championship for girls in Saudi Arabia. But this success did not come without obstacles.
“One of the major challenges at the start was community resistance,” Abu Srour noted. “Many families were hesitant, given traditional views that football isn’t a sport for girls. But through daily engagement and building trust with families, we broke down those barriers. Today, we have a committed and stable team—and we’re seeing growing support from the community.”
Roweida Al-Azha, one of the team’s coaches and a design student at Birzeit University, said the idea of forming the team came after noticing that many girls in the camp were eager to join a sports programme. “Fortunately, Aida Club and Udd Union provided that space, and now we see girls of different ages playing football and competing in local tournaments,” she said.
The team has played in numerous friendly competitions with nearby clubs, and several players travelled to France as part of a cultural exchange programme, participating in football-related activities abroad. Upon their return, three girls from the team were selected for the national squad.
Roweida said forming a girls’ football team in the camp was once considered unconventional. “But dedication and performance shattered that stereotype. These girls have proven they can play and excel in football just like any boy.”
She ended with a message of encouragement: “Pursue your dreams. Nothing can stop you—not the occupation, nor societal constraints. Determination makes the impossible possible.”
One of those dreamers is Nour Abu Ghuneim, an Udd Union player and a current member of the Palestinian national team. “I started playing because I’ve loved football since I was a child,” she said. “Through the Udd training sessions, I was selected by coach Ammar Jalayta to join the national squad.”
Nour now trains regularly in Jericho alongside other players, preparing for upcoming tournaments. “We train twice a week with the team and have developed a strong sense of teamwork,” she added.
This story was produced as part of the “Qarib” programme, implemented by the French media development agency CFI and funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
