WHERE WE WORK
Free to Run operates in some of the most challenging regions in the world, where decades of conflict and instability have resulted in extreme social isolation for women and girls as well as harassment, constrained mobility, and unequal access to education.
Our participants come from diverse backgrounds, but all live in places where girls’ sport is not yet common or understood. As of 2025, we have programs operating in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.
IRAQ
Iraq continues to experience conflict following decades of war and in terms of the situation for girls and women, Iraq is one of the most discriminatory places to be assigned female at birth.
Since 2018, Free to Run’s program in Iraq has provided sports and life skills training to girls and young women from diverse backgrounds who have been affected by conflict and displacement. Currently, we are delivering programs in several communities and refugee and internal displacement camps in Erbil, Duhok, and Sinjar.
79% of participants report improved leadership abilities, with 59% feeling more self-confident
80% of participants report improvements in their social and emotional well-being
99% feel a greater sense of belonging and social support through their involvement in the program
75% experience a decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms
82% of participants report improvements in their overall physical and reproductive health
79% of participants report a better understanding of their rights, including their right to be safe and treated equally
49% feel more confident saying “no” in relationships, and half of unmarried girls feel more empowered to delay marriage until 18
60% of caregivers report a more positive view of women participating in sport and accessing public spaces
“Free to Run means a lot to me. Women in Arab and Kurdish society are greatly oppressed by their lack of opportunities, while with just small support, they can achieve a lot. Free to Run supports women to become leaders. I see this as a very great achievement in our society. ”
AFGHANISTAN
In August 2021 when the Taliban took control of the government, and after eight years of continuous growth into five provinces, Free to Run had no choice but to stop our operations in Afghanistan. Since the fall of Afghanistan, the situation for girls and women has deteriorated in shocking ways.
Omid (امید) (the Dari word for hope) is a clandestine program that Free to Run developed in 2022 in partnership with young Afghan women, to support the mental health of girls and young women in this time of existential crisis. We deliver weekly indoor, trauma-informed strength and mindfulness training sessions - cautiously and secretly to mitigate any possible security risk from the Taliban.
74% of participants experience an overall improvement in their emotional well-being
70% report a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression
89% of participants report improved social support and a stronger sense of community
73% of participants report an improvement in their physical well-being
31% of participants express increased optimism about their future and their ability to create change within their communities. While this is an important step forward, challenges persist, as 33% of participants still struggle with self- belief and 29% remain uncertain about their ability to attain the things they aspire to in life
“Sometimes we think we lost everything in Afghanistan and are no longer athletes. When someone comes and trains me like you did, I feel more motivated and am reminded I am an athlete.”
PALESTINE
70% of participants report a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression
75% report improvements in social and emotional well-being
79% of participants form supportive friendships and find caring mentors
68% of participants demonstrate a deeper understanding of their rights
74% express confidence in delaying marriage until at least the age of 18
74% of participants report an improvement in their leadership abilities
Our program in Palestine is delivered in partnership with Palestine Sports for Life, founded and led by Tamara Awartani (a champion athlete and social entrepreneur in Palestine). Launched in July 2024, the aim of the year-long program is to build the resiliency of adolescent girls and young women in 10 sites across the occupied West Bank, from Jenin to East Jerusalem.
“Before joining the program, I felt alone and didn’t want to talk to anyone. Now, I feel stronger, happier, and I look forward to running with my new friends.””
PAST
PROJECTS
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)
At the start of 2018, Free to Run began a pilot project in DRC with local NGO AIDPROFEN. Within weeks of starting our project, word began to spread, and almost immediately, we had a team of 60 students and mothers meeting three times a week for a 5-10km run. Thanks to a partnership with 261 Fearless, the global non-profit organization founded by Kathrine Switzer, we were able to expand the DRC project into a full-year program that included the 261 Fearless training program and our own Life Skills through Sports curriculum.
HONG KONG
In 2015, Free to Run introduced a special hiking program for refugees of war and conflict who were living in very difficult circumstances in Hong Kong. It started as a small program that offered a weekly hike for a handful of female adult refugees. With strong local leadership, the program steadily flourished, and in 2017 became its own standalone charity called R.U.N.
SOUTH SUDAN
In November 2014, Free to Run ran a successful project in South Sudan, through a local implementing partner called Sports for Hope. The project focused on volleyball skills training for women living in a site for internally displaced persons. Our goal was to facilitate access to group sports activities for women and girls. Social cohesion can provide critical support to those who need it most, strengthening their coping mechanisms and reducing the risk of further vulnerability.
