After many months of forced absence caused by the pandemic, Inter Campus is finally traveling the world once again, spreading the values of friendship, peace and brotherhood through the game of football and the Nerazzurri colors.

The warm welcome at the Shatila refugee camp from the boys and girls, local coaches and friends of Inter Campus was proof of the importance of the immense effort put in by Inter Campus and its local partners to keep activities alive—wherever possible and always in accordance with local legislation and protocols—during the long months of the pandemic.

The moment we once again passed through the gate of the Shatila pitch with training equipment and the brand-new kits to deliver to our little Inter Campus participants was deeply emotional; everyone’s relentless desire to play almost wiped out the last year and a half of inactivity, and within a few minutes, activities resumed as if we had never been away from Beirut.

Unfortunately, however, in recent months Lebanon has experienced and continues to face an extremely grave political, economic and social crisis that has brought the country to its knees. Inflation is sky-high and the price of basic necessities is prohibitive for most of the population. Medication is very difficult to find, as is gasoline—marked by endless and chaotic queues outside the few filling stations open during this period—and even today, it remains uncertain whether school activities will resume in person. The electricity supply is also totally inadequate, and only a few can afford a constant supply through private generators.

The severity of the situation is magnified in Shatila, where many primary services do not exist under normal circumstances and where, moreover, drug and arms trafficking make life even more dangerous; yet this is not enough to take the smiles off the faces of the Inter Campus boys and girls who, through the project, benefit from a safe space to play, have fun and learn.