The office was closed in early January 2014, after the arrival of ISIS in the province of Al-Anbar, more than a million fled the areas, where the vast majority fled to Baghdad into government controlled refugee camps or rented rooms in houses from families in the capital.
The Fallujah office led by the former international football star, Amer Assi, who once played against the likes of Diego Simeone, Henning Berg, Santiago Canizares and Kasey Keller, found himself now as a 44-year old refugee in Baghdad, living in a clubhouse at the Iskan Sports Complex, with his fellow coaches from the Fallujah office.
Amer Assi whom once travelled the world with the Iraqi national team, was now making a living for his whole family of a modest wage of $ 200 (pr. Month) received by the Iraqi Youth Network as the Director of all Sports activities at the network. His two assistants and coaching prodigies are find themselves in the same situation, both once considered as two of the best and up-coming coaches in Al-Anbar, are now living in a changing room at Iskan Sports Complex with their mentor.
Yet, the fall of their city has only inspired them to do more activities for fellow refugees from the city of Fallujah, people residing in Baghdad, either in rented houses or refugee camps. In the month of May alone, the three coaches and their colleagues from the Baghdad office, helped creating five associations for Fallujah and Anbari refugees.
The Al-Anbar Alternative Sports Association, providing an opportunity for children from refugee camps to do alternative sport disciplines, such as skateboarding and ultimate. The Sports 4 Girls Association, with "girls-only" sports activities, and the Chess-Master Association where local Soviet educated chess-masters provide kids classes on the art of chess in refugee camps.
The Homework Association consists of teachers and elder students providing help for homework to kids in refugee camps. The Popular Help Association, where a group of young students of Anbari descent, help the refugees with any chores needed in the refugee camps; everything from cleaning the streets of the camp, fundraising for clothes, food, water and whatever is needed at the time.
The Fallujah office, which was predicted to close after the ISIS-push in early 2014, is now one of the most active offices in Iraq, defying all challenges put against them as refugees. When Amer Assi was asked what kept him going, he said; "It is our way of resisting those who want us to live in a mental prison… but as history has shown, you can not break an Iraqi’s back, we always find a way to live our life’s."
Level 1 Coach Seminar in Unity State, South Sudan
Strengthening Communities Through Level 1 Coach Seminars in Unity State, South Sudan In the heart of Unity State, South Sudan,
17/04/2024
