A common pastime for many youths was a dream for 18-year-old Fatin Hamaydeh: to play organised football.

The Irbid resident said it was impossible for a girl from her community to take part in what is viewed as an exclusively male domain other than kicking the ball in the schoolyard with a few schoolmates.

But her passion for the sport led to her selection for an international programme empowering youths through football.

Hamaydeh told The Jordan Times that she jumped at the opportunity to participate in training as part of International Inspiration programmes conducted by UNICEF in collaboration with the British Council and UK Sport and coaches from Right to Play.

“I applied to Kufer Rakeb women’s football team and was accepted,” she said in an interview following a football match as part of a competition between member teams in Qweismeh on Tuesday.

Hamaydeh is one of hundreds of students who joined the programme over the last two years.
The International Inspiration project, developed by London 2012, the British Council and UNICEF, aims to reach Jordanian children of all abilities - including girls and marginalised children - to build their leadership skills through sports.

The project also seeks to integrate children with disabilities into mainstream schools by securing their participation in physical education classes and programmes.

According to Hanin Rawashdeh, Right to Play’s communications coordinator, the football championship has brought face to face seven football teams with children from 15 areas across the Kingdom that were selected to implement the project.

She explained that organisers select students and provide them with training through a “coach-to-coach” programme, so that they can go on and train their peers.
Attending Tuesday’s match, Liz Nicholl, UK Sport CEO, said she was “impressed” with the partnership between the several organisations implementing the project, the government and the students enrolled in the training.

“I am impressed with these schools and the opportunities they provide to girls to learn through sport,” Nicholl tsaid.
She added that even physical education teachers in schools are taking part in activities and delivering messages through sports and teamwork.
She called on the government to incorporate the three-year project into policies and strategies to guarantee its sustainability.

Nicholl, who is visiting the Kingdom to meet with partners, added that she is discussing with stakeholders the sustainability of the project after three years of implementation.
International Inspiration aims to transform the lives of 12 million children in schools and communities across 20 developing countries worldwide through inclusive physical education, sports and play, according to the British Council website

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The programme, a collaboration of expertise in sport, development and education, is being implemented in public, private and UNRWA schools in Jordan.
Training was conducted in five locations in the first year and 15 in its second year, with a goal of 25 areas of operation next year, according to UNICEF.