The Gaza Strip, which is dominated by the Islamist Hamas faction,
has experienced three wars with neighboring Israel in the past 11
years.
There are few recreational activities for women in the
densely-populated enclave of two million people, which is under a
blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt and has the highest
unemployment rate on earth.
Amal Khayal, who teaches the class in a makeshift gym and also heads
women's activities for Italian charity Cooperazione Internazionale
Sud Sud (CISS), said the project was aimed at training some 30 women
to teach.
"We are trying to use physical activities to help release
psychological pressures so that women here can form a support
network for one another," Khayal told Reuters during one of her
classes.
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Some of the participants are also involved in learning juggling.
Nineteen will become yoga instructors and 13 will learn to teach
circus tricks, Khayal said, adding that more women had expressed a
wish to participate in future classes.
"Everyone in Gaza, specially women, needs yoga because we live in a
tough place. There are no entertainment facilities where we can
unload our depressions which come in addition to our daily life
issues," said Amina Al-Zraiay, a sports teacher and occupational
therapist.
(Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Ori Lewis and Peter Graff)
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