Breaking a Sweat, Breaking Isolation

Last week, the The Women’s Group’s Spring 2016 session came to a close. The Women’s Group is a program for women residing in refugee camps and disadvantaged neighborhoods in Nablus with a focus on the mothers of children in TYO’s Core Child Program. This session, TYO has been proud to offer fitness and nutrition classes taught by our Spring 2016 Zahi Khouri Fellow, Beginner’s English classes, and educational seminars that focus on mental health, physical well-being, and child-rearing. Our Spring 2016 session culminated with a trip to a local park in Nablus where 60 Women’s Group participants gathered together to eat delicious food, reminisce about the last two months of programming, and make plans to socialize in the future.

TYO beneficiary, Sabah, describes how TYO helps her connect with others and feel less lonely:

“I love TYO and programming it offers women. I love learning English, exercising and taking nutrition classes with my friends, and building community with women from other camps I would otherwise never meet. Sometimes I feel isolated at home and being able to come to TYO, break my routine, and spend time with a big group of women feels so good.”

An April 2016 study found that loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a 30% increase in the risk of having a stroke or coronary artery disease and that social interaction plays a critical role in an individual’s health and wellbeing. The Women's Group

​participants gain many skills from the programming they are offered but they

​also have the opportunity to break the isolation many of them experience and build relationships with people they would otherwise never meet. TYO looks forward to continuing to offer programming to the Nablus community so our beneficiaries can continue to form bonds that will benefit their health and last a lifetime!

Vanessa, Women's Empowerment Program Coordinator