Iraqi academy empowers women through sports

(23 Feb 2021) LEAD IN: A women's sports academy in Iraq provides girls with a safe and empowering space to play basketball.    STORY-LINE: These Iraqi girls come together for the love of basketball. At Zheema's academy, they train for long hours, shooting the ball through the hoop and improving their dribbling skills. Established in 2016, the academy aims to help Iraqi girls practice sports and be part of professional teams in Iraq and the region. There are 120 girls registered in various sports activities, of which basketball is the most popular. "We are representing the national team of Iraq in tournaments outside, in the events outside," says Rizgar Mohammed, head of Zheema organization for sports development. The academy provides halls so that women can play all kinds of sports freely.   "Actually, in the previous years, girls were prevented from practicing sports to some extent. But now and fortunately, we at Zheema organisation, managed to change this idea ," says Chinar Fatah, a basketball trainer from Sulaymaniyah. The girls pay around $20 a month for a membership at the academy. They can practice three days a week in the winter, and six days a week in the summer. "It has been three years that I am here, and I feel that these three years have been the nicest years of my life," says basketball trainee Niza Khalil. "I believe that my friends who aren't here are missing out on a big joy," she adds. Next to sports, the organisation also organises group environmental activities such as cleaning the city, tree planting campaigns and awareness courses. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...