GAA Sports Kits for Palestinian Children

Hi, my name Stephen and I have just returned from the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

As the war on Gaza continues, the youth in the West Bank are the only Palestinian children/young adults we can reach at this time, but the isolation and despair is increasing within this area.

I have seen a small drop of what these children witness in their lives and it is shocking as much as it is heart rendering; with warplanes above flying low and drones buzzing daily; with harassment at checkpoints; and towns closed by barriers in the early evening leaving long tailbacks with you left waiting in apprehension to see if your mummy or daddy will be harangued and humiliated this time or not; with youth being arrested and incarcerated for posting on social media what they experience or witness, or for just attending a protest; a quantum of this has been recorded during the short visit which will be shared with political and human rights organisations.

However, we need to give a glimmer of light to take away a little of the despair, this really will alleviate mental suffer through sports in one of the most restricted areas in the world, and at a time where most of the world's governments have chosen to look away because of selfish and strategic interests.

The youth feel isolated but when the idea of becoming part of a team was put forward to them, their eyes lit up. Numerous children in Hebron and Ramallah want to start boys and girls teams, and we have numerous community people that will commit to administering and training these teams.

I ask for people to please donate and assist in this worthy cause to help alleviate the suffering, through allowing minds to focus on a positive disruptor. It will provide an escape to what they face on a day to day basis.

In the town of Hebron where I stayed, three cousins (aged 15,16 and 19) were fatally shot near an adjacent illegal-settlement, carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on the day I left (13/01/24) read - https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-kills-palestinian-teenagers-near-west-bank-settlement.

This political status quo is set to continue for the foreseeable future, so please help support them, and if you would like to get more involved, please reach out to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read.