Success Story of Leen Riashy

Success Story of Leen Riashy, beneficiary of the Play and Learn Project:

Leen Riashy, a young Palestinian woman from Kofor Aqab – north of Jerusalem, has been a football player for seven years, and today, she plays for the Palestinian national team. Since 2019, Leen has joined the Play and Learn project which is implemented by Burj Al-Luqluq and funded by UNICEF. In the project, Leen complements her sports training and has been embarking on her journey on a regular basis over the past three years.

Leen’s joining the project, in cooperation between the Capital Club and the Play and Learn Project, contributed to highlighting her football talent and developing her football skills and abilities in a short time. Leen receives regular monthly training ranging from 10 to 12 training sessions, with coach Tamer Aqel. During the trainings, Leen showed great determination and commitment, which made her a distinguished member of the team, striving to achieve her dream.

The Play and Learn project, with its continuous training and activities, helped raise Leen’s level of play and sports experience where she was unanimously chosen by the Palestinian Federation as an ambassador to represent Palestine in international stadiums. Leen also won the title of best player in the national team, and 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.