23-year-old Batoul has been with GAME Lebanon, an international NGO working for social change through youth-led street sports and culture, since 2016. Now, she is a Zone Manager at a GAME facility in Beirut, mentoring and training children in sports to inspire them to lead a healthy lifestyle.
23-year-old Batoul has been with GAME Lebanon, an international NGO working for social change through youth-led street sports and culture, since 2016. The NGO aims to increase access to free sports facilities for Lebanese and refugee children and youth from disadvantaged families.
Batoul started as a Player trained by the sports instructors, then became a volunteering sports instructor - or Playmaker - herself. Today, she is a Zone Manager and trainer at a GAME sports facility in Bourj el-Barajneh in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.
Our colleagues met Batoul during a visit in October 2023 to see the NGO's activities in several Lebanese cities under WDF's 2023 fundraiser, supporting GAME's mission with a focus on preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through sports and educating children and youth on proper nutrition.
‘I was in high school playing basketball with my best friend, and she told me that I play well. She asked me if I would like to train for free at GAME, where everyone can join to gain new friends and experiences.’, she told us.
Since then, Batoul has been an active part of the GAME community, mentoring and helping children train in sports to support their mental and physical health. Her siblings also became part of the community, with the two other sisters becoming volunteers and two of her three brothers training as Players.
‘I try to be a role model for the other Playmakers and Players. Every week, we have around 130-150 Players and 60% are girls, it is such a high number. It means a lot for me to have so many girls training’.
According to GAME Lebanon, there are more than 800 youth leaders trained as Playmakers – volunteering coaches and role models for children in their communities – with approximately 44% female and 30% non-Lebanese Playmakers.
In the past years, GAME Zones in Lebanon have served more than 11,500 children and youth - a diverse and inclusive community in terms of religion, background or nationality. In these facilities, they practice sports, exchange knowledge and learn about equality.
‘We are all friends and support each other’, added Batoul.
The NGO aims to tackle the challenges faced by the young generation and families living in marginalised settings when it comes to access to free and inclusive public spaces, as she explained.
‘A lot of the kids used to go to private clubs. At GAME, it is free to participate in our weekly training. We always tell the parents that their kids will be trained in street sports; there are no clubs in Lebanon that have that’, explains Batoul. ‘We highlight that it is about having a good lifestyle. They will have more self-confidence that will impact their lives, and more self-esteem. A lot of parents already came to me to tell me, “Oh, my kid always used to be alone, but now she has friends and knows how to interact socially”.’
The 23-year-old Playmaker was able to share her story after attending the first health education workshop organised by GAME in 2023, as part of the activities supported by the WDF fundraiser to help build a platform for delivering nutrition-based education to larger groups of children.
‘It really added to my knowledge. Now I know what and how I should eat when I go to a restaurant or hang out with my friends. I love to learn!’.
This year’s fundraiser empowers children and youth to achieve better health, a sense of belonging and hope for the future through sports and mentoring.