PACES

The Palestine Association for Children’s Encouragement of Sports (PACES) is a UK-registered charity dedicated to offering structured after-school sports programmes for Palestinians aged from eight to 16 living in refugee camps and marginalised communities across Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. Set up by Hani Qattan, it seeks to give participants enhance new life skills through sports and educational activities and empower them to become active citizens within their communities. The foundation also trains young male and female sports coaches so they receive coaching certification from sporting federations and partners in the community to promote arts and life skills.

Related sustainable development goals

  • No Poverty
  • Good Health and Well-Being
  • Quality Education
  • Gender Equality
  • Reduced Inequalities
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • Partnerships for the Goals

Impact

Three countires (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon)

27 cities

50% female participation

33,500+ children reached

2,500+ sports coaches enrolled

200+ partnerships

91% of parents said their children have enhanced their social skills through PACES

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Development
    • Economic development
      • Community improvement
      • Employment
      • Financial services
  • Education
    • Education services
      • Out-of-school learning
  • Health
    • Public health
      • Physical fitness
      • Occupational health
  • Human rights
    • Female empowerment
    • Equality
  • Humanitarian
    • Youth development
      • Community service for youth
      • Youth services
      • Youth mentoring
    • Emergency relief
    • Special population support
  • International relations
  • Public affairs
    • Leadership development
  • Sports and leisure
    • Community recreation
      • Camps
    • Sports

Focus populations

  • Adolescents
  • At-risk youth
  • Children
  • Preteens

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • Jordan
    • Lebanon
    • Palestine

Grantees

  • Global Communities
  • Jordan River Foundation
  • Right to Play
  • Save the Children
  • SOS Children’s Villages

Partners

  • Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation
  • Al Fadl Trust
  • Al Gurg Fosroc
  • Al Hussam Holdings
  • Asian Football Development Project
  • ATICO Fakhreldin Group
  • Augusta Victoria Hospital
  • Autodesk Limited Middle East
  • Bank al Etihad
  • Barclays
  • Bayt.com
  • BB Holdings Sal
  • Berwin Leighton Painser LLP
  • Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company
  • Bond Interiors
  • British Consulate – General Jerusalem
  • Cairo Amman Bank
  • Capital Bank of Jordan
  • Claranet Limited
  • Clifford Chance
  • Clyde & Co.
  • Contrack
  • Converse Inc.
  • Defense For Children
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
  • Emirates Link Group
  • Emirates Red Crescent
  • Europe Arab Bank
  • Forte Securities Ltd
  • Fosam Company Limited
  • Foundation of International Education
  • George & Rhonda Salem Family Foundation
  • GMS Holdings
  • Gothia Cup
  • Hariri Foundation
  • Hikma Pharmaceuticals
  • HSBC
  • Irish Aid
  • Jordan Commercial Bank
  • Kiblawi Foundation
  • King & Spalding
  • Kolaghassi Capital
  • Manchester City Football Club
  • Mercy Corps
  • Microfund for Women
  • National Beverage Company
  • Nike Inc
  • NStyle International
  • OPEC Fund For International Development (OFID)
  • Palestine for Development Foundation
  • Palestine Investment Bank
  • Palestine Investment Fund
  • Palestinian Medical Relief Society
  • PalTel Group Foundation for Community Development
  • Qatar Fund for Development
  • Rawabi Holding
  • Republic of France
  • Sharek Youth Forum
  • Soros Fund Charitable Foundation
  • SOS Children’s Village
  • Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
  • The British Government
  • The Coca-Cola Foundation
  • The King Baudouin Foundation
  • The Netherlands Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority
  • Trafigura Foundation
  • Turkish Cooperation & Coordination Agency (TIKA)
  • UN Women
  • UNICEF
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Office of Sport for Development & Peace (UNOSDP)
  • Vitol Charitable Foundation
  • War Child
  • Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center
  • World Emergency Relief

Programmes

  • Art for Change Workshop

    More than 70 PACES children participated in an art workshop, in cooperation with The Orenda Tribe, a social enterprise in Amman, aimed to increase their self-expression and raise awareness about social issues through art and storytelling. The activity focused on positive actions needed to create change in their communities. Together, children discussed solutions, ideas and words of inspiration that make a difference, and how they can become change agents to inspire others to do the same.

  • Borders of Our World Project

    In partnership with the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center in Palestine, children from PACES programmes in Deir Jarir and Beit Liqia spent three months doing different activities around community, culture, nature, and art.

     

     

  • Coaching certification and training

    PACES runs training for men and women coaches that results in certifications from national federations of football, basketball and volleyball. It also trains its coaches in life skills, including first aid, capacity building, and coaching.

  • Community Engagement and Volunteering

    PACES encourages community involvement through various initiatives that promote voluteerism, Children and yotuh participate in community service projects, which help them develop a sense of responsibility and contribute positiviley to their communities.

  • Gaza relief programme

    In March 2024, 68 children from the SOS Children’s Village Rafah, along with 11 employees and their families, were evacuated from Gaza and transported to safety in Bethlehem.

    The children, aged between 2 and 14 years, are in the care of SOS Children’s Villages Palestine, having lost their parents to the war on Gaza.  A number have been enrolled into PACES sports programmes.

  • Health and Nutrition Education

    Recognizing the importance of overall well-being PACES provides education on health and nutrition. These sessions help children understand the important of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle choices.

  • In Our Hands

    The Children's Cultural Productions Project, in partnership with the A. M. Qattan Foundation, was a two-month course for children from Palestine to learn about different artistics mediums and meet art professionals.

  • Life Skills and Educational Workshops

    These include topics such as leadership, communication, and conflict resolution, aiming to equipe children with tools that will benefit them in their peronal and professional lives.

  • Matbakh El Kell

    A partnership with Souk El Tayeb’s community kitchen in Lebanon, cooking and distributing warm meals to those in need. The support covered the monthly salaries of 25 cooks and kitchen staff from vulnerable communities, who prepare the daily meals for the needy. During 2022, more than 116,000 hot meals were given out. 

  • Sports for Development

    This programme provided free-of-charge after-school sports sessions for 3,500 boys and girls in Palestine and Jordan. In addition to teaching the children basketball, volleyball, and football, they also recieved life skills lessons and confidence training.

  • Sports programmes

    PACES organises regular sports activities targeting children between the ages of seven  and 16. These programmess are designed to keep children engaged in healthy activities, promoting teamwork, discipline, and fitness.

Financials

Details

  • US$ 2,441,663 received in cash donations

Funding model

  • Foundation-administered programme awards
  • Grants to organisations
  • Programme related investment
  • Volunteering

Primary funders

  • Hani Qattan

Funding source

  • Family
  • Fundraising
  • Government
  • Private

Operations

Key staff

  • Raya Abu Zayyad
  • Rima Ramadan
  • Shireen Hudhud

Board members

  • Ghassan Nuqul
  • Hani Qattan, founder and chairman
  • Haya Qadoumi
  • Helen Al Uzaizi
  • Mohammed Azab

Contact details

More

Resources

PACES Annual Report 2022. Read here