TEL AVIV – “The pandemic has further accentuated the socioeconomic differences between the children. The neighborhoods in the south of Tel Aviv – the multicultural area of the city, where Eritreans, Sudanese, Ethiopians and people of many other origins and colors are all trying to integrate into society – has become a place of even more extreme poverty,” says Arturo Cohen, a long-time Inter Campus coach on the Israel-Palestine project. “The lack of social and economic rights, as the entire country saw lockdowns and restrictions, led refugee families, including Inter Campus families, to experience moments of true desperation. The lack of the most basic goods and the impossibility of guaranteeing a safe roof over their heads were met with support only from a few very generous NGOs, who tried to ‘patch up’ the lack of rights, financial support, and certainty for the future.”

And so it was even more moving to find ourselves all together again, on the field of rights and sharing, the Inter Campus Israel/Palestine pitch.

A week of joy, a reminder that the right to play is at the foundation of every child’s life, where football was not the only protagonist, but also spectacular days at the pool, climbing, and the final pizza party that brought so much happiness to the children.

From the perspective of integration as well, it was a true pleasure to see how, despite a year without meeting, the pitch, the coaches, and the atmosphere immediately restored a climate of sharing and broke down differences and boundaries between Black and white, Israelis and refugees.

And finally, one last happy note. Perhaps the happiest of all, because football belongs to everyone, and we are so proud of our Inter Campus Tel Aviv girls’ team, with Israeli, Eritrean, Sudanese, Ethiopian, and Indian girls reminding their male peers that the most beautiful colors in the world, those of F.C. Internazionale, are worn by all, without distinction of gender or origin.

Because at Inter Campus, we are all brothers—and sisters!!—of the world!”