Gaza's first Parkour school opens its doors! 

 

"It makes me feel like I can overcome any obstacle in my life. There's nothing stopping you," says Mohammed Aljakhbir, a young man living in Gaza who practices Parkour.

 

And it is for this reason that Majd Mashharawi , Ahmad Matar and Tom Vaillant, the 3 founders of the Wallrunners association, wanted to open a Parkour school in Gaza.

 

The young association aims to promote the practice of Parkour, which is defined more as an art of living than as a sport! 

 

"For a generation of young Palestinians who have grown up amidst underemployment, it has become a method of self-expression, an escape and a way of life... Our mission is to create a place accessible to children of all ages by giving them the confidence to tackle the psychological and physical obstacles in their lives. Parkour is a popular sport in Gaza because it's a discipline that allows self-expression through movement, it's almost a philosophy of life. The Parkour athletes from Gaza will be trained as coaches for the next generation, who will be able to learn safely in a school equipped with quality equipment, rather than on the streets where injuries can easily occur", says Tom. 

 

The Wallrunners association is committed to spreading the practice of Parkour as well as self-esteem and self-confidence among young girls, thanks to training provided by Madj Mashharawi, a well-known figure in Palestinian entrepreneurship! 

 

The DECATHLON Foundation is pleased and proud to participate in the launch of this association, whose goal is to open the school in August 2020 to the youth of Gaza. We look forward to 

 

Here's a video of the whole project!