Workcamp Details

Description: The Palestine Youth Club established in the Palestinian Refugee Camp of Shatila in Beirut in 2005. It hosts over 70 members and people of different ages. The aim of the Club is bringing the youngsters together to build ties between the various communities of the camp. The Palestinian Refugee Camp of Shatila was established in 1951 after the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Now the camp hosts more than 20K people on an area of 200m2 living in harsh condition. The beginning of the Syrian war in 2012 pushed the camp in an even worse situation.The PYC has no access to any communal sport space and no access to any official sport tournament. Nevertheless, the club continues to practice its sport activities. Our priority has always been to create a strong group and an open minded society.

Type of Work: Our centre was established to serve children and youth to integrate them as good individuals for a better society. Youngsters of different ages and nationalities can benefit from the center's activities 20 hours/week. The activities are: football, basketball (for girls only), ping pong, boxing, remedial classes for English and Art, entertainment, life skills and awareness sessions involving also families which are an essential part of the values of the club. All these activities will take place in the centre of Shatila and in the fields outside the camp. The activities and practices provided by our centre want to improve the character, confidence and life skills of the girls, as well as to prevent the children and boys from being involved in the troubles of their life.

Study Theme: Inform about the history and situation of Palestinians as displaced people, so that the world can be aware of both those who are prisoners in their own land and those who are prisoners elsewhere. Our centre wants to spread this consciousness through sport. We created it to improve the general situation and to let children and youth benefit from it by connecting different Palestinian communities in Shatila. All our activities and practices are about that so we will discuss about it every time during the workcamp.

Accommodation: Volunteers will sleep in the centre in 3 big rooms where they can find a bathroom (with cold shower and salty water) and a small kitchen.They can cook in the centre or eat outside. Internet is available. Bring sleeping bags and towels. They should bring cash money for the whole stay: due to the difficult economic situation of the country withdrawing is very expensive and not always possible.

Language: Other language spoken in the camp is Arabic

Requirements: Volunteers must have excellent spirit of adaptation and ability to work in a group. We only ask for commitment, respect and love for sport and children. Good sport knowledge and background is an asset as they could be coaching the football and basketball teams. Note that the basketball activities are addressed to women. It is forbidden for volunteers to drink alcohol inside the centre and the camp

Approximate Location: The activities will take place in different locations: some in Shatila Refugee camp like English and Art classes, basketball trainings for girls under 16, table tennis, boxing. Other will take place outside like football and basketball for girls over 16. Both the centre and the field outside the camp are in Beirut and 10 minutes far from the Rafic Hariri airport. No train station in the country.

Notes: Some more information about the living condition of the camp: the water for shower is salty and it is compulsory to buy drinkable water.The electricity it is not 24h but around 14h per day. After 12pm it is forbidden to go out and there is no electricity after that time. It is forbidden to drink alcohol and decorous clothing is suggested.

Please, keep in mind that moment the situation is volatile with possible fast changes due to safety in the country.

Camp Photographs