Success Story of Siba Zamamiri

Success Story of Siba Zamamiri, beneficiary of the Play and Learn Project:

Siba Zamamiri, a young Palestinian woman from the Old City of Jerusalem, has been a football player for six years, and today, she plays for the Palestinian national team. Since 2019, Siba has joined the Play and Learn project which is implemented by Burj Al-Luqluq and funded by UNICEF. During the project, Siba has received regular football training, which has had a significant impact on her performance in the field.

Over the past three years, Siba has participated in most of the trainings that were held in cooperation between the Capital Club and the Play and Learn Project, and has made a great effort to develop her athletic ability and experience in playing. Throughout her trainings, Siba was guided by coach Tamer Aqel, alongside her team members on their way to win and excel.

After years of playing and intensive training in the project, Siba was nominated to represent Palestine, with her colleague Raghad Abu Al-Hummus, in the Palestinian women’s national team in Lebanon. Siba believes that this was a great challenge which at sometimes placed a burden on them but increased their self-confidence as Palestinian girls who always strive for the best. Siba also later received several local and international grants to complete her sports career.

The Play and Learn project is a huge project that provides services to more than 700 children in five main areas in the city of Jerusalem, whose children do not receive sufficient services. These areas include the Old City, Silwan, Jabal Mukaber, Shu’fat refugee camp and Issawiya. The project, alongside 10 sport clubs, provides free sports services in football and basketball, legal awareness services, academic support in basic subjects, and established a wheelchair basketball team for children with disabilities while providing them with continuous academic and psychological support. The project is implemented in cooperation between Burj Al-Luqluq and UNICEF.