Alsama - Lebanon

Alsama means “the sky” in Arabic — a symbol of hope, freedom, and possibility. For young people living in displacement, cricket offers a rare space where they can play, connect, and rebuild confidence in environments often shaped by uncertainty and loss.

Cricket Unites works with partners in refugee and host communities to create safe, inclusive cricket spaces for children and young people affected by conflict and displacement. These sessions go far beyond sport. They are places where young people can feel normal again: laughing, learning, forming friendships, and rediscovering a sense of belonging.

Coaches are trained to prioritise safety, inclusion, and wellbeing, using games that emphasise teamwork, communication, and respect. For many participants, Alsama sessions are their first experience of structured play since being displaced. Over time, cricket becomes a routine and something to look forward to, something that brings structure, confidence, and joy.

The programme also supports young leaders from refugee communities to become coaches themselves, building local capacity and creating role models who understand the lived realities of the children they work with. This peer-led approach strengthens trust and ensures the programme is culturally and socially relevant.

In Alsama, cricket becomes a shared language that cuts across borders, backgrounds, and trauma. It creates space for healing, connection, and hope, reminding young people that even in the hardest circumstances, play can open the sky again.