Zainab Came from the Darashakran Refugee
camp in November of 2021 with a group of her friends to run the Erbil Fun Run. That year, due to a lack of government funds and the threat of Covid, the marathon had been cancelled, but the Erbil Marathon Foundation wanted to go ahead with a run. Adrian Brune had come to the country to write a story about refugees forming clubs and running. It would mark her second time to run the race — the first time since 2015. As Brune was running the 4K, she noticed a tall, young girl in jeans and a marathon t-shirt running barefoot. Zainab passed Brune; Brune tried to catch up to Zainab. Zainab passed Brune again. Finally, when Brune caught up, Zainab had crossed the finish line, coming in second place.
Zainab, a Syrian refugee from the Darashakran camp, after winning second place in the 2021 Erbil Marathon fun run.
In the end, Brune’s story fell through, but Zainab kept on running. In the early fall, the marathon director Abdulsattar Younis contacted Brune to tell her of Zainab’s progress over the months — she had not only continued to run races, but she had been winning them. Brune and Younis talked about helping Zainab get proper kit and shoes and coaching, and it became apparent: why just sponsor one girl? Why not form a run club five or six boys and five or six girls from the camps, train them, give them kit and help them with transportation to the races in the region.
Abdulsattar and Brune, with some help from other ex-pat friends, started the Refugee Run Club with clothes from Tracksmith and shoes from Hoka. Brune also raised money to pay for transportation and race entry fees. On a late November Wednesday afternoon, Brune and Omar Hussein of VI Kurdistan entered the camp with clothes and shoes and distributed all to 12 very happy teenagers. Two days later, most turned up at the starting line in their new kit to run the 10K, disappointed they weren’t yet ready for the half-marathon: the next step.
Six girls receive tights and shirts from Tracksmith and shoes from Hoka to wear for the upcoming Erbil 10K and for training in future months. (Photo by Carlotta Cardana)
THE IRAQI FOUNDATION FOR SPORT + PEACE HAS A MISSION TO:
Keep the Refugee Run Club going, as well as expand it; add sponsorship for a local football team within the camp.
Run campaigns to raise awareness of the physical, psychological and community benefits of sport. Ensure that girls and women have access to sport and encourage them to fully participate.
Provide an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and regions in Iraq to work together and display to the international community Iraq’s commitment to peace and non-violence through sport and other creative endeavors.
Educate young people, especially marginalized communities and refugees about opportunities through sports and provide them with an alternative to radical idealism, substance abuse or other adolescent harms.