November 27- Norway’s government has stepped up its involvement in helping football ease the plight of Syrian refugees who have fled to Jordan. Foreign Minister Børge Brende this week inaugurated the Norway Football Field for Girls at the Za’atari Syrian refugee camp in Northern Jordan and checked on progress of the second Norway Football Field in Za’atari that is set to be complete next month.
Addressing a group of young Syrian girls, Brende said: “This football field cannot remove the hardship you are going through. But I hope it could give encouragement at a personal and a community level.”
“I believe that football, through its universality, its ability to make us cooperate and overcome barriers, and its accessibility to girls and boys from all backgrounds can connect us and teach us how to best cooperate to achieve our goals.”
The Za’atari football fields comprise two of the eight football fields the Norwegian government is supporting throughout Northern Jordan, where the majority of Syrian refugees are currently based. The so-called Norway Football Fields project is led by the Norwegian FA, in cooperation with the Jordan Football Association and the Amman-based Asian Football Development Project (AFDP).
“Through our partnerships in Jordan with JFA, AFDP and other NGOs working in the field, the NFF will not only provide football activities for Syrian children, but also train Syrian coaches; both men and women,” commented Per Ravn Omdal , Project Manager of the Norway Football Fields and Honorary President of the Norwegian FA.
“Progress is underway in the six Norway Football Fields we are supporting. We expect that all projects will be complete by March 15th 2014, as agreed with our partners, which also includes the Jordan Ministry of Education.”
FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Football Association and founder and chairman of the AFDP, expressed Jordan’s appreciation for Norway’s support. “Football is indeed a powerful medium to bring people together. It has certainly helped raise hope for children in Za’atari,” he said.
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