Controversial Sports (02:38)

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Teenage Muslim girls play volleyball wearing hijabs, a defiant act that stirs controversy in the conservative refugee community. The teens are among 60,000 children who live in a Somali refugee camp in Kenya.

Dadaab Refugee Camp (02:31)

Somalia has been ravaged by civil war for nearly 20 years; over 170,000 residents live at the camp. Mostly boys get to play sports, but Elizabeth Mwiyeria, a sports officer with CARE, works for change.

Girls Volleyball (02:53)

Many in the community see Somali girls playing sports as a direct threat to their culture. Hodan, 17, describes the harassment of boys when she and her friends play volleyball. Camp leaders cite religious reasons for why girls should not play.

Gender Roles (02:41)

Most girls Hodan’s age are getting married; they tend to leave school early. Hodan’s parents are supportive of her desire to play volleyball. The Together for Girls projects aims to get more girls involved in sports.

Restricted by Tradition (02:44)

Hodan has grown up in the Dadaab refugee camp. Nemia Temporal, head of UNHCR Dadaab, elaborates on genital mutilation and other gender-specific practices that are harmful to young women. She advocates sports as a means for building self-confidence and improving their positions in society.

Camp Culture (07:09)

There is no work in the camp, and refugees are dependent on rations; the Kenyan government does not want them to put down roots. Girls have little opportunity to socialize and develop; volleyball allows them to meet and talk. Hodan participates in a heated debate about religion, hijabs, and soccer.

Credits: A Sporting Chance (00:09)

Credits: A Sporting Chance