Feature: Swimming used in Gaza to heal psychological wounds of war-traumatized girls
                 Source: Xinhua | 2018-10-10 20:03:29 | Editor: huaxia

Palestinian girls take part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer)

GAZA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian girl Fatima Abu Shadak from the Gaza Strip had the opportunity to develop her swimming skills as part of an initiative focusing on the victims of the recent Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014.

The 13-year-old girl was traumatized by the death of her father by shrapnel of an Israeli missile that landed near their home during the war which killed more than 2,000 Palestinians.

Joining such an initiative that aims at forming a female-only swimming team was a turning point to her.

Since the beginning of last year, a special team of girls has been formed after they were taught the basics of swimming and the necessary skills.

A Palestinian girl takes part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer)

Fatima took her place in the team of girls aged between nine and 15 and became eligible to compete in local swimming competitions.

"My involvement with the team allowed me to learn swimming and become a professional swimmer ... This raised my morale and confidence," the little girl told Xinhua.

Fatima added that she has the will and determination to move ahead with the dream to represent Palestine at the World Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

"I also want to be a lifeguard in the future," she said while smiling.

The girls' team was formed under coach Amjad Tantish, who runs a cultural center for children that focuses on children and young people who are victims of the Israeli attacks.

"My main idea is to use swimming as a means of relieving the psychological stress suffered by children and young people, as swimming has many physical and moral benefits," Tanish told Xinhua.

He explained that the team currently consists of 15 girls who have shown great development in their swimming skills, expressing hope that the team would have the opportunity to participate in outdoor competitions.

Palestinian girl take part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018.(Xinhua/Stringer)

Members of the swimming team, all from the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, meet three times a week for two hours at a time.

The trainings are usually divided to warm-ups and fitness exercises, before they train multiple swimming forms either individually or in groups.

The team has been supported by a German institution which covers part of the financial costs.

But the team still needs a lot to achieve the records that allow girls to participate in foreign competitions and the Olympics.

"We suffer from a lack of equipment, lack of an Olympic swimming pool in the Gaza Strip or a heated pool," Hassan Moussa, a well-known Palestinian swimmer who coaches the team, told Xinhua.

Moussa expressed hope that the girls will find the needed support to continue to develop their skills.

"We need to continue not only for sports reasons, but also because this initiative focuses on the psychological support of war traumatized girls," he said.

With great efforts, 12-year-old Rokaya al-Baba competed with her teammates in a race during a training session.

Like her peer Fatima, Rokaya lost her mother and brother during the 2014 Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"Swimming helps me discharge my negative energy and provide a unique emotional emptiness ... I wish I could swim every day," the girl enthusiastically said.

Back to Top Close
Xinhuanet

Feature: Swimming used in Gaza to heal psychological wounds of war-traumatized girls

Source: Xinhua 2018-10-10 20:03:29

Palestinian girls take part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer)

GAZA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian girl Fatima Abu Shadak from the Gaza Strip had the opportunity to develop her swimming skills as part of an initiative focusing on the victims of the recent Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014.

The 13-year-old girl was traumatized by the death of her father by shrapnel of an Israeli missile that landed near their home during the war which killed more than 2,000 Palestinians.

Joining such an initiative that aims at forming a female-only swimming team was a turning point to her.

Since the beginning of last year, a special team of girls has been formed after they were taught the basics of swimming and the necessary skills.

A Palestinian girl takes part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer)

Fatima took her place in the team of girls aged between nine and 15 and became eligible to compete in local swimming competitions.

"My involvement with the team allowed me to learn swimming and become a professional swimmer ... This raised my morale and confidence," the little girl told Xinhua.

Fatima added that she has the will and determination to move ahead with the dream to represent Palestine at the World Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

"I also want to be a lifeguard in the future," she said while smiling.

The girls' team was formed under coach Amjad Tantish, who runs a cultural center for children that focuses on children and young people who are victims of the Israeli attacks.

"My main idea is to use swimming as a means of relieving the psychological stress suffered by children and young people, as swimming has many physical and moral benefits," Tanish told Xinhua.

He explained that the team currently consists of 15 girls who have shown great development in their swimming skills, expressing hope that the team would have the opportunity to participate in outdoor competitions.

Palestinian girl take part in a swimming training session, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, on Oct. 8, 2018.(Xinhua/Stringer)

Members of the swimming team, all from the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, meet three times a week for two hours at a time.

The trainings are usually divided to warm-ups and fitness exercises, before they train multiple swimming forms either individually or in groups.

The team has been supported by a German institution which covers part of the financial costs.

But the team still needs a lot to achieve the records that allow girls to participate in foreign competitions and the Olympics.

"We suffer from a lack of equipment, lack of an Olympic swimming pool in the Gaza Strip or a heated pool," Hassan Moussa, a well-known Palestinian swimmer who coaches the team, told Xinhua.

Moussa expressed hope that the girls will find the needed support to continue to develop their skills.

"We need to continue not only for sports reasons, but also because this initiative focuses on the psychological support of war traumatized girls," he said.

With great efforts, 12-year-old Rokaya al-Baba competed with her teammates in a race during a training session.

Like her peer Fatima, Rokaya lost her mother and brother during the 2014 Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"Swimming helps me discharge my negative energy and provide a unique emotional emptiness ... I wish I could swim every day," the girl enthusiastically said.

010020070750000000000000011100001375235101
乐发ll 大发app 凤凰彩票app 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 大发彩票 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ii下载入口 乐发ll 乐发v平台 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 乐发lv 乐发lll安装 乐发lv 乐发登录入口 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票登录 网信彩票 彩神 彩神彩票官方网站 彩神彩票官网首页 彩神官方app下载安卓版 凤凰彩票登录 彩神v3 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 快3官网 网信彩票 快3app 网信彩票平台 百姓彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3app下载 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票平台 幸运5分彩快3 快3彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 大发10分PK10 快3下载 网信彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3彩票官网app 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 大发彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 彩神购彩平台 每日彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 彩神彩票购彩平台 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 凤凰彩票登录 乐发lv 乐发∨Il 百姓彩票网站网址 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发lll安装 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 一分快3 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 乐发lll 乐发ii下载入口 乐发彩票官方网站 凤凰彩票官方网站 凤凰快3 彩神彩票官网首页 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 凤凰彩票app 乐发app 网信彩票平台 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票app 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票app 网信彩票平台 乐发彩票app下载 乐发lv 乐发app 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 彩神彩票 乐发彩票中心 极速快3彩票平台 人人快三凤凰 大发彩票app 大发彩票大全 乐发彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 乐发app 酷天堂彩票平台 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票大厅 凤凰彩票app 极速快3彩票平台 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 大发彩票app 网信彩票用户 百姓快三 百姓彩票平台 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 彩信平台 网信彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发∨Il 人人快三凤凰 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 人人快三凤凰 乐发彩票 彩神彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发彩票 大发彩票中心 凤凰彩票登录 凤凰彩票app 彩神彩票 大发彩票 乐发ll 大发彩票app 凤凰快3 凤凰彩票 彩神彩票 乐发ll 凤凰彩票 乐发lll 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 彩神彩票 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 盈彩网投资平台 大发官网 一分时时彩 乐发lv 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 彩神iv 大发彩票app 大小单双平台 一分pk10 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发官网 快彩彩票 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 乐发彩票中心 网信快3 乐发 彩神xl 三分快3 大发彩票 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 大发彩票 乐发 分分快3 彩神vl 55世纪 55世纪 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 乐发lv welcome凤凰彩票 乐发ll 1分快3 彩神 彩神ll 1分快3官网 1分快3的平台 welcome凤凰彩票 三分快3 彩神x 彩神vl 凤凰彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ll 乐发lll 乐发lv 大发彩票app 大发彩票 乐发 乐发彩票 乐发彩票中心 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 彩神xl 腾讯快3 大发彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票app 快3平台 乐发 1分快3 乐发彩票 彩神x 凤凰快3 彩神xl 彩吧助手 大发彩票app 快3平台 大发排列3 彩神iv 彩神vl 乐发IV 彩神x 一分pk10 大发排列3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 一分pk10 凤凰彩票 乐发Vll 大发官网 乐发ll 大发彩票 乐发1 凤凰快3 彩神vl 乐发lx 百姓彩票 乐发VI 彩神x 乐发IV 极速快3 乐发 凤凰快3 网信快3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发lv 乐发lv 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 大发彩票 大发彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 彩神x 乐发 乐发ll 极速快3 乐发lv 乐发彩票中心 快3彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 彩神x 凤凰彩票app 分分快3 网信彩票 网盟彩票 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票 乐发 快彩彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发ll 网信彩票 乐发lv 全民彩票 凤凰彩票app下载 快盈彩票 大发彩票app 大发官网 凤凰彩票 彩神iv 大发彩票 网信快3 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票