If you’ve kept up with Seeds of Hope over the past few years, you’ve probably heard about one of our newer partners, The Athlete’s Table. We began our relationship with them in 2020, and over the past four years, they’ve become a valued relationship for Seeds of Hope.
The Athlete’s Table believes in the power of sports to transform communities. They’re investing in Jericho and the surrounding community in an effort to ensure everyone has access to sports and fitness.
Their soccer and basketball camps, in partnership with the Seeds of Hope Cultural Center, have been a hit in our community with a huge turnout each time. These camps are also one of the few opportunities young girls have to enjoy organized sports in Jericho.
“Sports serve as a bridge that enables us to establish connections with a substantial portion of individuals within the community,” says Simon Shaheen, Director of Seeds of Hope Cultural Center. “The majority of people are interested in sports, so The Athlete’s Table has been instrumental in helping us reach out to individuals we were previously unable to contact.”
Recently, The Athlete’s Table has begun to expand beyond soccer and basketball to facilitate other activities. In fact, last October, they hosted their first martial arts camp at Seeds of Hope. They were our last visitors before the war began.
Martial arts are a good source of physical exercise, but their integration with mental and emotional training is a perfect complement to the Core Values curriculum that Seeds of Hope uses in our school and Cultural Center. While the children learned techniques and kicks, they also learned important life skills like self-control, respect, and confidence.
“After three camps with many of the same kids, we are beginning to see their mental and emotional strength grow,” said Jonah German, CEO of The Athlete’s Table. “We’re able to keep building the same relationships with kids who return to each camp and earn their trust more and more each time.”
Unfortunately, the team from The Athlete’s Table hasn’t been able to return to Jericho since October. Their recent planned trip had to be postponed for safety reasons. However, they’re still at work.
In the months after the war began, a few of the Seeds of Hope team visited Jonah in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the United States. Jonah helped us connect with other like-minded organizations and ministry groups to increase awareness of our presence in Jericho.
Earlier this year, The Athlete’s Table also hired Natalie Shaheen, Simon’s sister, part-time as a Middle East program director to keep their work active while they’re unable to visit. As a member of the national Palestinian women’s soccer team, the mission of The Athlete’s Table resonated with Natalie. She’s been integral to their “Hope in the Dessert” camps in Jericho.
“I am proud and happy to be part of this sports family,” said Natalie. “It’s one of my dreams to develop sports in Jericho and give every child—male and female—the opportunity to play sports. I am confident that through sports, we can make a difference and create a better world.”
The Athlete’s Table has certainly created a better world at Seeds of Hope. Their camps and programs have connected countless new families and individuals to our work. They’ve also committed to helping us create a state-of-the-art basketball court for our new school expansion—something that will bring joy to children throughout our community.
We’re so grateful for organizations like The Athlete’s Table who are investing in Jericho and the next generation. They not only multiply our impact on our community, but they provide vital encouragement for the Seeds of Hope team!
