A Feeling Of Home

Iman Soufan, Qatar

Iman Soufan works for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and previously managed the Community Club programming of Generation Amazing. As part of the GOALS program, Iman tells the story of growing up in a multicultural household, the importance of her Palestinian heritage, her work at the Afghan Compound, and belief in football as a tool for peace.

Home is such a complex concept. I belong to one of the largest diasporas in history, and my Palestinian roots are pillars of my heritage and identity.

My name is Iman Soufan, my home is Palestine, though I have never been there. I grew up in the diverse city of Doha in a multicultural household.

We grew up with a strong feeling of home, of Palestine. It was always important for us to feel the connection to our homeland, whether by cooking Palestinian food at home, like traditional meat and vegetable stew with rice, or appreciating the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish. We would listen to stories from my grandparents, reminiscing on their glorious days living in Nablus.

Living in Doha, it has always struck me how the locals have such a sense of pride and nationalism; the love for their country is immeasurable. This is a feeling that is so foreign and yet so familiar to me.

My sense of identity is influenced by different cultures, traditions, and ways of life in my own family. I was born in Jordan and lived there until I was ten before moving to Qatar, and my father is Palestinian, while my mother is Pakistani-American.

As children, we would visit the US and stay with my mother’s family. My maternal-side grandfather was a conservative Pakistani Muslim living in the US, and my maternal-side grandmother was a redheaded Christian American.

It was such a different culture from my Palestinian side of the family. We would go to the States and do things we did not do back home, like celebrate Easter and Christmas. We would even join my great-grandmother on her bingo nights with friends. Her daily life was such a contrast to my Palestinian grandmother.

Perhaps this is where my love of diverse cultures comes from.

When my family moved from Jordan to Doha, it was a change in landscape and climate. Jordan is so green with mountains, fields, hills, and trees. However, it was super-exciting to be by the beach and to build such a diverse group of friends. I was meeting people from all over the world.

People were so welcoming in Doha; it made the transition easy. Also, my parents always encouraged us to be active. With my sisters, I would attend ballet classes. Our ballet teacher was Japanese, and she created a space where I felt safe to express myself. I would feel the music, become creative in dance, and bond with her as my teacher.

I attended ballet during the week and then football on the weekends. I was on the school football team, and we would host students from other countries as part of a football exchange program. These were incredible cross-cultural experiences, but I was too young to grasp the true power of sports.

That came later in my life when I was doing my masters thesis, and it has helped shape who I am and what I do today.

As part of my thesis, I spent the summer months of 2017 between different Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan, assessing the need for a peacebuilding education intervention. Having deep conversations with Palestinians of all ages, it was fascinating to see the different feelings each age group identified with.

Interestingly, my conversations with children and youth unfolded sport's unique and therapeutic power. Looking back, this moment drew me to explore the sport for development world further.

In the refugee camp, I met so many kids. I noted a trend; when the kids were alone, they spoke freely, and when they were with their parents, they were more constrained. And we were mainly talking about football.

These kids knew how much their parents had suffered and did not want to be insensitive to them. One child reflecting on Palestine said, “why would I not play football with an (Israeli) settler? If he lives next door to me, why can’t he play?”

It struck me as these kids had such a deep passion for their homeland, but through football, there was hope, a leveling of the playing field. This is the power of sport that we can so easily overlook. Naturally, sport brings people together, whether watching a match and cheering for (the same) team as others or playing it with people.

In 2018 I attended WISH - an event focused on healthcare innovation - and I learned about Generation Amazing (GA) and their commitment to well-being through football for development. Generation Amazing is a legacy project for the FIFA World Cup, working with different communities in Qatar and beyond, leveraging the power of sport to promote social change.

Qatar is also a country that empowers women in all sectors. Women hold leadership positions and are continuously supported by all members of the community. Women’s sport is highly valued in Qatar and will continue to be after the World Cup.

With the amount of people coming to Qatar and finally witnessing and experiencing what Qatar has to offer, I believe the stereotypes in the media will immediately be broken down. People will get to enjoy what Qatar really stands for and values. 

In 2019 I joined Generation Amazing and supported their football program for refugees at the Afghan Compound. I had the opportunity to create a holistic program offering English classes, dancing, sport, and Montessori learning. It was a wonderful experience, and the impact on the children stays with you. 

I remember a 7-year-old boy called Ashkan; wow, he was so naughty when he arrived; he just would not listen to anyone. It is hard not to have favorites, and I had a soft spot for him. Ashkan was homesick, he longed for his mother’s food and had Afghani music playing on loop whenever I would hang out with him.

He did not speak English, so we had a more emotional bond than verbal one. I cared for him for four months, and then he left to be relocated to another country. It was very hard to suddenly not be around him. His behavior and confidence had changed when he received love and attention and the opportunity to play.

Developing relationships with the Afghan evacuees and being a part of their support system was an emotional journey. I met and worked with people from different walks of life, each one leaving their impact and teaching me life lessons I never knew I needed.

This grounding experience highlighted the importance of small gestures and being present during conversations - which we all struggle with since we are caught up with our fast-paced lives. It helped me reevaluate my life and appreciate the simplest things in life.

Life moves so fast - it is times like these that make you take a pause, take it all in, enjoy, appreciate and practice gratitude. These moments are rare, and you do not know how much you need them until you encounter and experience them. Life goes by so fast. Slow down, take a moment, and take it all in. As I did with Ashkan.