Arsenal And Save The Children Mark 10 Years Of Syrian War
A new project from The Arsenal Foundation and the club’s partner Save the Children has been launched to mark ten years since the war in Syria began.
The collaboration between the two, fronted by Hector Bellerin and photographer Pixie Levinson, documents the lives of young refugees in the Za’atari camp in Jordan. The project donated instax cameras to the children so they could tell their own story through the camera lens, resulting in a new documentation to the resilience and creativity of children – even in the most adverse of circumstances.
The project is part of the pair’s Coaching for Life programme, which has supported the physical and mental wellbeing of children affected by war and conflict through bespoke football sessions in the camp since 2018. But with football pitches shut and Za’atari in lockdown, the participants swapped footballs for cameras to take part in the new collaboration.
Through photography, the young refugees were given a platform to tell the stories that are important to them, with a toolkit developed to help them express themselves through the the camera lens, highlighting what life is really like in the camp during lockdown and showing how Save the Children and Arsenal have supported their mental health and their hopes and dreams for the future.
Bellerin and Levinson then curated a collection of their favourite photographs to mark ten years since the war in Syria began on 15th March 2011.
“Sometimes as humans it’s really hard to communicate the feelings we have inside and it’s easier to express them in a creative way,” said Bellerin.
“Photography was something that took me away when I couldn’t play football in the first few months of lockdown and I think it helps us open up and connect with people in a different way. It’s inspiring to have these young people as part of the Arsenal family and to read their stories. I am so proud that we can continue to support them.”
Levinson added: “Photography has always given me an outlet to express myself – in good times and bad. Photos capture a moment, but what the children in Za’atari have managed to capture goes much deeper. Their photos tell so many stories – losing loved ones, leaving their beloved homes, treacherous journeys and years of living in a refugee camp.
“The strength and power these children have exuded through the camera lens is awe-inspiring. It’s been an honour to work on this photography project and give them the chance to share their stories with the world.”
Za’atari is one of the world’s largest refugee camps and hosts nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, while more than half of its population are children.
The Coaching for Life project between Arsenal and Save the Children has continued throughout the pandemic, with modules delivered remotely through virtual groups. The sessions address issues such as managing emotions, learning how to communicate, decision making, self-esteem and conflict management.
The project also helps both girls and boys develop skills as well as being able to voice their opinions, take action on issues that affect them, and learn about equality.
