“PACES” was founded in June of 2006 with the central aim of providing sports programs to Palestinian girls and boys. Though mainly for school-age children of 8-16, activities could be expanded to include children of different age groups.  

Our starting points were the football pitches and the basketball courts where we launched our first sets of programs in November of 2006. These programs provided activities for over 400 children at six locations centred mainly in the Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Ramallah areas.

 As we celebrate our second anniversary we are busy putting together the final touches for programs for over 3,000 children in cities and towns all over Palestine; from Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarem in the north, to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah in the centre, to Hebron and Gaza in the south.

 Our programs and activities provide an escape for the children of Palestine, an escape from being idle on the streets, an escape that is fun and is healthy, and an escape that could potentially encourage excellence in an area long-ignored by our culture. We create programs that encourage team-work and stress the importance of work ethics through commitment to sports and to practice. Our programs are open equally to girls and boys.

As “PACES” and its projects and programs grow, and as funding increases, we will provide those children whose skills and dedication stand out, with further opportunities to excel. Those girls and boys who demonstrate unique and outstanding talents would be rewarded with the chance to develop their skills further by being enrolled in foreign sports academies and schools. To the end, we have development a relationship with the Horizon Foundation through which PACES could enrol outstanding Palestinian children at schools such as Eton, Atlantic College and Dearfield Academy.

Finally, PACES’ programs have created employment and will continue to do so. Our third sets of programs will create jobs for over 250 coaches and assistant coaches. Furthermore, we have secured long-term strategic partnerships with foreign entities and corporations such as MercyCorps and NIKE, and on the local side with a plethora of companies who will play an active part in all aspects of our programs.