Boys love football!! Afghan boys are no different.

In Tehran, Operation Mercy works with empowering refugee Afghan women. The younger women are given weekly and monthly seminars and workshops to build relevant life skills. The Afghan boys really wanted to be a part of the sport aspect of the project.

What to do with their enthusiasm and energy?

Football training was organised to develop physical skills and fitness through fun, practise drills and exercises. Team shirts were given out, venues were hired and the boys were into action BUT not before the prerequisite of literacy lessons.

Football skills alone rarely see boys equipped for life, so literacy and life skills became the prerequisite before attending football training. So not only do the boys develop teamwork, fitness, self discipline and team strategies but they also learn to improve their reading and writing as well.

Now everyone is happy ... Operation Mercy, Afghan mothers and their boys as well.

For our viewers in Iran, please click this link to view the video 

http://animoto.com/play/i0R7u1g8s0WN1cgUXmzU4Q