MENA
Iraq
Partner since:
2005
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
99 OFFS (+326 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
19.018 children at OFFS (+42.033 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
6.465 events, 71.703 children, and 250.771 days of training.
Cross Cultures has been active in Iraq since 2005, when the Open Fun Football Schools initiative was launched in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Agency and our local partner Al-Salaam Football School, with a purpose to promote peace and reconciliation between people of different ethno-religious backgrounds as well as enhance child protection, youth empowerment and active citizenship. Cross Cultures also works to improve gender equality with a goal of minimum 40% female participation in our activities. By getting girls and women involved in sports and civil society we hope to contribute to a future in which girls and women are secured an equal place in society. Since its introduction, the Open Fun Football Schools programme has reached nearly 70.000 children and engaged more than 4500 youth volunteers.
In 2016, Cross Cultures facilitated the formation of the Iraqi Youth Network (IYN), with the aim of providing young Iraqis with a platform to voice their opinion and empowering the youth to organise themselves around community issues. The initiative resulted in the formation of 24 youth organisations, here among the Women’s Rights Association, Workers Union Association, Association of Relief for Christians as well as self-organised social and livelihood activities in several UN IDP/refugee camps across Iraq.
Cross Cultures network of sports clubs and youth volunteers has proven exceptionally strong in the face of war, ISIS occupations and violent uprisings with a majority still active today.
In 2023, Cross Cultures will begin a new country-wide project with a focus on using grassroots sport and association building to increase civic engagement and employability among young women and men as well as create social cohesion in returnee communities.
Syria
Partner since:
2005
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
32 OFFS (+18 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
13.552 children at OFFS (+2.626 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
797 events, 1.333 children, and 9.654 days of training.
Cross Cultures introduced the Open Fun Football Schools to Syria in 2005 with the objective to enhance social cohesion, gender equality, child protection and appreciation of cultural and social diversity.
In 2010 Cross Cultures’ ceased activities due to the outbreak of civil war, however, after more than decade we returned to Syria in 2021 to promote reconciliation and peaceful coexistence as well as child and youth resilience. Specifically, we have mobilized a network of young Syrians and built their capacity to organise Open Fun Football Schools and other grassroots football activities for children as tool to bring people together across cultural and social divides.
In 2016, Cross Cultures facilitated the formation of the Iraqi Youth Network (IYN), with the aim of providing young Iraqis with a platform to voice their opinion and empowering the youth to organise themselves around community issues. The initiative resulted in the formation of 24 youth organisations, here among the Women’s Rights Association, Workers Union Association, Association of Relief for Christians as well as self-organised social and livelihood activities in several UN IDP/refugee camps across Iraq.
Cross Cultures network of sports clubs and youth volunteers has proven exceptionally strong in the face of war, ISIS occupations and violent uprisings with a majority still active today.
In 2023, Cross Cultures will begin a new country-wide project with a focus on using grassroots sport and association building to increase civic engagement and employability among young women and men as well as create social cohesion in returnee communities.
Lebanon
Partner since:
2005
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
23 OFFS (+919 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
5681 children at OFFS (+30.460 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
5.369 events, 17.930 children, and 276.178 days of training.
The problems of the country are apparent in all parts of the society, including the Lebanese Football Association and the professional football clubs, which are strongly politicized and divided between the different political, religious, and ethnical groups.
This division in Lebanese football has often caused tension and conflict in the stands during football matches, which has resulted in a total ban on spectator football. Due to these problems, football is seen as something that can further divide the country instead of bringing the different groups together. Neither the clubs nor the Football Association has been focusing on establishing and organizing grassroots football in the country in a large scale. Cross Cultures’ Open Fun Football program is aiming at bringing together Lebanese children and refugee children promoting integration and inclusion.
Jordan
Partner since:
2005
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
49 OFFS (+67 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
5.977 children at OFFS (+6.742 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
4.166 events, 14.372 children, and 215.802 days of training.
Cross Cultures activities in Jordan focus on creating dialogue and peace between the local Jordanian youth and the many Syrian refugees who came to the country. The program called “Dialogue for Peace” was carried out by Streetfootballworld, Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and Cross Cultures in corporation. The overall goal of the project was to mobilize Syrian and Jordanian youth in host communities and refugee camps through football programs that focused on addressing issues in conflict and post-conflict environments. The project was contributing to the building of peaceful relations between Jordan host communities and refugee families through network and community building activities.
Between 2017-2022, Cross Cultures implemented an extensive youth empowerment programme funded by the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme, wherein we have educated young unemployed Jordanians as volunteer football coaches and Community Organisers in our Youth Leadership Education. The volunteers have organised Open Fun Football Schools, sports festivals and daily sports activities for vulnerable children as well as developed their own projects addressing civil society issues.
Tunisia
Partner since:
2005
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
33 OFFS (+158 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
5.709 children at OFFS (+97.833 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
1.697 events, 8.318 children, and 139.688 days of training.
Following the Arab Spring, Cross Cultures introduced the Open Fun Football Schools programme to provide Tunisian children and youth with opportunities to participate in- and influence society, become active citizens and create better life opportunities. Furthermore, we work to enhance a democratic governance structure within the sport for all sector by advocating, promoting, training, and facilitating network activities for young women and men all over Tunisia.
Between 2017-2022, Cross Cultures implemented an extensive youth empowerment programme funded by the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme, wherein we have educated young unemployed Tunisians as volunteer football coaches and Community Organisers in our Youth Leadership Education. The volunteers have organised Open Fun Football Schools, sports festivals, daily sports activities, dialogue panels between youth and government representatives and founded their own civil society associations addressing issues such as women’s rights, child safeguarding and youth radicalisation. The programme has been tremendously successful with results such as 74% of the Community Organisers finding formal employment or becoming social entreprenurs.
Morocco
Partner since:
2018
Total number of Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS):
6 OFFS (+132 one-day festivals)
Total number of children:
1200 children at OFFS (+118.858 at one-day festivals)
Day to day trainings:
304 events, 2.599 children, and 10.806 days of training.
Morocco is Cross Cultures newest partner country, where we have been active since the beginning of 2018 with the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme. Our activities in Morocco especially focus on gender equality and disadvantaged youth as well as cooperation with the other countries in the Danish-Arab Partnership programme, Tunisia and Jordan.
*Last updated 12th March 2025
