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Summary: Finaa

Finaa is a Jordanian non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls, and women through football. The mission is to create equal opportunities for girls and women, particularly in underserved areas. Finaa focuses on girls’ centers and schools that serve both locals and refugees. 

Finaa uses football as a tool for self development, aiming to address gender gaps, inequalities, and stereotypes in society. Finaa transformation projects use a phased approach. Phase One: Art and Turf- this involves installing the turf and collaborating with artists to create art around the pitch. Phase Two: Education on S4D- PE teachers from the region participate in a sports for development course and finally Phase Three: Football Festival/Tournaments– PE teachers return to their schools to develop football teams, which then compete in our friendly football festivals.

 

Case Study of Finaa: Team celebrates refugee women's and girls team winning football game
refugee football players standing on field

CHALLENGES

  • Limited Resources: As a growing organization, Finaa operates with limited staff and financial resources, which restricts their ability to scale projects and expand their reach. 
  • Staffing Needs: Finaa rely heavily on volunteers, and recruiting and retaining qualified staff is currently challenging, impacting our capacity to manage and implement programs effectively. 
  • Involvement of Refugees: Due to the current size and resources, Finaa has not yet involved refugees directly in the planning and design of projects, which limits their input and engagement in shaping the initiatives. 
  • Navigating Local Bureaucracy: Interacting with local authorities and navigating bureaucratic processes can be time-consuming and complex. Some projects take more time getting the approvals than the timeline of the project itself, affecting the efficiency of operations. These challenges are part of Finaa’s growth process, and they are actively working on strategies to address them and enhance their overall impact.

LESSONS LEARNED

  • It is hard to work on the topic of refugees and there is a lot of issues that Finaa need to be aware of in order to do it in the right way.
  • Being a women-led organisation that works with women for women, Finaa face a lot of obstacles, because of this, it is really important to work with women who are really experienced in the field of sport for development and experienced in working with refugees in order to get the best results.
  • Another lesson learned is Finaa are now more aware of the importance of involving local and refugee experts in the field to create curricula that effectively targets the issues their participants face. 
  • Finaa works with the local community to identify
    which issues to address through sport. Through
    gathering them together and using different methods
    such as focus group discussions, Finaa then incorporates these concerns into their curricular.
    Coaches and trainers can then better provide targeted support to refugees and local communities.
New Finaa pitch

IMPACT

  • Enhanced Social Cohesion: By integrating local and refugee students, Finaa have fostered mutual understanding and collaboration, promoting social cohesion and reducing stereotypes. As schools in Jordan run two shifts, one for local Jordanian and another for refugees it means only through Finaa will local and refugee students have contact. 
  • Empowerment and Self-Development: Participants, both local and refugee, gain confidence and skills through football and other sports, contributing to their personal growth and self-development.
  • Increased Equality and Opportunity: Our inclusive approach has provided equal opportunities for all participants, helping to address gender gaps and create a safe space for them to practice football freely and comfortably in their school. Giving equal opportunities to local and refugees by providing for both communities training sessions and tournaments.
young refugee women on newly refurbished pitch football

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