Dadaab holds the unfortunate title to being the largest refugee camp in the world. Hostility and segregation are also facts of life. 

Earlier this year,  Johann Olav Koss sat down with  Claremont McKenna College (CMC), student and co-founder of FUNDaFIELD, Kyle Weiss,  to talk about Right To Play, what motivated Johann to found the organization and what drives him to create programs that will have a lasting impact on the lives of children facing adversity around the world.

Following the 2013 Henry R. Kravis Prize announcement at Claremont McKenna College in California, FUNDaFIELD co-founder and CMC student Kyle Weiss sat down with Johann to ask him about his inspiration for Right To Play.

They will conquer some of the toughest climbs in the world on their bikes in a bid to raise $400,000 in support of Right To Play. You can find out more and support them by visiting Right To Play’s Trois Etapes website: www.righttoplay.com/troisetapes.

Confirmed riders so far include two veteran riders from last year – Team Captain’s Peter Klein and Oren Peleg - Olympic distance triathletes, Ironmen, former professional cyclists, and 2012 Olympic Champion Sophie Hosking! Right To Play is proud to have such committed athletes dedicating their time and energy to support our cause. Training is well underway and both teams will be pushing themselves to finish top of the podium and replicate last year’s successful win.

As well as tracking their progress on www.righttoplay.com/troisetapes, you will be able to watch their progress on Eurosport and Channel 4. Stay tuned and visit www.righttoplay.com/troisetapes to find out more – with your help they can reach their target and help raise $400,000 in support of Right To Play’s work!

By Lubna Gharaibeh, Suzan Dababneh & Batool Kreishan

As children, some boys dream of playing football, others dream of leaders.  For some, however, both dreams come true, as it did for 19-year-old Muath.

Muath loves to play football and is a member of the Al-Karmel Club Team in Al Husson Camp-Irbid, Jordan. Reserved and timid by nature, Muath would occasionally show up to practice late and lacking enthusiasm.  After a while, his coach became concerned about Muath’s apparent lack of commitment to the team.

One day, Right To Play approached the team to propose implementing its Football for Development program, which aims to develop self -awareness, esteem and confidence in youth, as well as other key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. 

From that day on, everything began to change for Muath.  As part of program, he was given the responsibility to develop his own team and implement the same training he received through Right To Play.  As a Coach, Muath trained a local team and supervised them in order to pass on the knowledge, skills and values he learned.

It was as though something has magically happened to Muath that caused him to alter his behavior.  His coach and peers around him start noticing too.  Muath’s love for football grew once he became responsible for a team that would ultimately participate in a tournament with several other Jordanian teams at the end of the year. 

Muath made an effort and gathered a team to train.  He started showing up regularly to his own practices and showed immense discipline to the club and to Right To Play's values of teamwork and cooperation.  Exposure to Right To Play’s sport-specific program provided him with the tools he needed to overcome his shy and reserved nature.

His love for football gave him a sense of strength and responsibility that drove his passion. He became a leader in the club and started showing initiative to solve problems that arose between his peers at the club.  Also, he became a role model for the team he trained.

In time, Muath developed his football skills, which earned him a place on the Jordanian club league. At one of the games, the coach of national team was watching and was impressed with his skills and the way he played as part of a team. He approached Muath and asked him if he was interested in joining the national team.

Driven by enthusiasm and with the support of his coach and peers, Muath now divides his time between training as a footballer and mentoring players on his own team.

Right To Play does not develop athletes, we develop leaders.  Right To Play gave Muath the chance to rediscover himself and find the power within to pursue his dream, and his behavioral change made him a better person and a young leader in his community.