The regional virtual training on “Advocacy for Quality Physical Education (QPE) in the Arab Region” was organized in collaboration among UNESCO Beirut, Chabibeh Sporting Club (Lebanon) and the Desert Bloom Association (Jordan) A group of 28 young men and women active in the sports, physical education and youth empowerment from 8 Arab States (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and Tunisia) were familiarized with the concept of Quality Physical Education and ways to advocate for it as effective means of promoting social inclusion and cohesion based on UNESCO’s knowledge production on “Quality Physical Education” (April 2021).
Ibrahim Al Salman, a 27-year-old football trainer from Jordan, said that his participation in the training enhanced his understanding of Quality Physical Education and advocacy. Anotnios Jbel from Syria appreciated the collaboration environment built during the online training, and the group work that enhanced the cumulative and complementary efforts and inputs from all group members. He added that the training highlighted the importance of raising the awareness of communities on the importance of quality physical education, and on the importance of both mental, emotional and physical health for all community members especially for the disabled people who are usually left behind. He also believes that every person can make an impact in this regard even in their small circle of influence. Elissa Abou Jamra, a physiotherapist from Lebanon, said that the training helped her in differentiating between physical education and quality physical education, in understanding what advocacy is, how to participate in policy development and in making policy makers listen to us. The training also changed my perspective and allowed me to understand how different Arab countries tackle the issue of physical education.
The youth trainees will be further collaborating in the preparation of a series of advocacy campaigns as well as a set of 2 national events in Lebanon by Chabibeh Sporting Club (10 Sept 2021) and in Jordan by the Desert Bloom Association (mid-November 2021). They aim to address 3-4 aspects of QPE such as wellbeing for all ages, skills development for social cohesion as well as social inclusion and disabilities.