Rachel Corrie Ramadan Football Tournament 2015

Friends,

Today is about Gaza. Today is about remembering those we lost last summer, and honoring their lives. Today is about resistance. Today is about doing our part.

As our supporters know, Rachel Corrie’s friends in Rafah, Gaza, have created and produced the Rachel Corrie Ramadan Football Tournament in her memory for the past seven years. The month-long amateur sporting event celebrates Ramadan by providing a festive atmosphere and a safe community space, and it’s back again!

In 2014, the tournament was delayed by the Israeli assault on Gaza, but eventually over 300 players took to the field to demonstrate to the world that the spirit of Palestinian youth was not broken. Mahmoud Al Neirab, a famous player who lost his mother and three sisters in an air strike bombing to their home insisted on participating despite his family’s tragedy, and the audience encouraged him and appreciated his steadfastness and resilience.

After Tamer Al Aydi, a member of the tournament logistics team and a popular figure in the local football community, was killed during the Israeli assault, the al Ramla team took Tamer’s name for their own. Winning the tournament cup, the team presented it to Tamer’s soul. Over three thousand spectators came out for the finale, despite the tremendous hardship the Gaza community was facing.

Tournament organizers sent messages to us at the Rachel Corrie Foundation thanking each person who supported the project. Gaza Coordinator Adnan Abu Sa’ud wrote, “With this tournament, we have created a real way to strengthen personal connections in our community, and with our friends around the world.” Although delayed as a result of the assault on Gaza, the tournament fostered power and pride in a community under siege.

During this special season of Ramadan and as the world remembers the events of a year ago, the 2015 Rachel Corrie Ramadan Football Tournament is under way now! Commemorating Palestinian history and the 2014 assault on Gaza, 32 teams, featuring hundreds of players, have chosen team names ranging from historic villages in Palestine to individuals killed during last year’s tragedy.

The Rachel Corrie Ramadan Sports Tournament is an inclusive space for persons regardless of physical ability.  From December 1-3 (in time for the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3), part two will feature 150 disabled athletes participating in football, table tennis, sitting volleyball, and basketball.  This inspiring event organized by Al Basma Club for the Disabled will provide a sport forum for the deaf, amputees, paraplegics and polio victims.

Our Gaza friends remind us that it is important to support programs that build community and well-being there.  The Rachel Corrie Ramadan Football Tournament allows children and young teens affected by the ongoing occupation and its associated trauma to find positive role models – adults taking charge of their immediate situation, working together, creating healthy outlets to dispel stress, and reaching out in a positive way to build community relationships.

Please remember and support our friends in Gaza who are resisting occupation and strengthening community through athleticism and sportsmanship.  Follow tournament developments at the website Gazalife.org and lend your financial support for all 2015 Rachel Corrie Ramadan Tournament events by donating now!

Many thanks and Ramadan Kareem from all of us at the Rachel Corrie Foundation!