Today I received the joyful news that Suzan and the other girls we support are playing a group from another area of their camp and using the equipment that we sent. “Our girls are facing Nojoum 4 tonight, wish them well” my assistant in Yida refugee camp told me. The girls’ volleyball team we are supporting only began to train regularly in late July 2014. The team is now well known in the camp and playing other teams but has some way to go to compete against the more established clubs. “How nice!” I said, joking that “they will be defeated; no fears.” Living in a refugee camp is not easy; however the sheer determination of our young girls and boys is utterly moving |
Her routine in the camp is hard. She has to fetch water in the morning, sweep the house compound and help her mother with cooking every day.
Suzan’s mother, like many others in the camp, at first did not allow her daughter to join the team.
But now she can see that Suzan’s life has been completely transformed by taking part in the volleyball club.
Despite the long walk to the training, Suzan is very happy to make the journey after she has finished her household chores.
There is no school for her to go to, so the five hours she spends playing volleyball with her friends each week is the closest thing she has to a childhood.
Now Suzan has more friends than ever and is able to listen to Radio Dabanga and exchange news with the girls in between games.

Batoul, 11, is the captain of the team. The volunteer coaches have done such a good job that Batoul has begun coaching her teammates on positioning and how to make a good pass.
Children in Yida camp in South Sudan’s Unity state make up the majority of 75,000 populations.
The kids are enjoying the activities and showing an impressive desire to improve and win. Our next steps are to build a meeting room and make sure they have enough for food &kit for the next 6 months for supporting the wining team click donate. Thank you |