Press release – Peace and Sport – www.peace-sport.org
Honey Thaljieh, first-ever captain of the Palestine football team, joins Peace and Sport as a Champion of Peace
Honey Thaljieh will contribute to the development of Peace through Sport in the Middle East and beyond
Monaco, March 8, 2013 – On this International Women’s Day, the President of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou welcomed the new “Champion of Peace” Honey Thaljieh. This announcement confirms Peace and Sport's desire to expand across the Middle East region, ahead of the first ever Peace and Sport forum in Dubai.
The very first captain of the Palestine football team, Honey Thaljieh is a dynamic and recognized ambassador of the Peace through Sport movement. A true icon, Honey Thaljieh shocked the audience at the last International Peace and Sport Forum in Sochi, by giving a touching speech on the obstacles she encountered during her career. Being Palestinian, Arab, Christian, born in Bethlehem and a football player, Honey Thaljieh has a deep knowledge of Middle Eastern issues, and knows how sport can advance mentalities. She will share her vision with Peace and Sport, helping the organization to clearly understand regional issues and develop future projects.
From Monaco, where she visited the entire Peace and Sport team today, Honey said: “On this International Women’s Day, I am proud to become a Champion of Peace. Sport made me who I am today. I am happy to have the opportunity to give back everything he gave me. I know from experience that sport can have a positive impact on Peace in the Middle East and I am enthusiastic about being part of this change. »
President Joël Bouzou congratulated Honey Thaljieh’s contribution in promoting Peace through Sport. He added : “We are extremely honored to welcome Honey Thaljieh, a young woman, a source of inspiration, who fits perfectly with the values of our institution. Honey has already fully contributed to Peace. We look forward to collaborating together on issues in the Middle East and beyond. The story of Honey Thaljieh and its values are truly universal. As the new Champion of Peace, she will inspire an entire generation around the world. »
About Honey Thalijeh
Honey Thaljieh is the co-founder of the Palestine women's national football team. She was the very first woman to play football in Palestine overcoming social, political and institutional difficulties. She thus became the first captain in the history of the Palestine national team.
Through her career and work, Honey Thaljieh has contributed to the development of women's football in Palestine. As a local manager of PACES, the Palestinian Association for Supporting Children through Sport, she helped children in difficulty through after-school sports programs; it provided young boys with a healthy environment and opportunities to divert them from street violence, and young girls with a chance not to remain confined at home. She also served as Coordinator of the Sports Department at the Diyar Consortium in Bethlehem where she was also Captain of the women's team. Honey Thaljieh is recognized in Palestine as an active member of two national committees; the National Committee for Palestinian Women's Football and the High Council for Youth and Sports.
Honey Thaljieh holds a degree in “Business administration” from the University of Bethlehem and a Master’s degree in “FIFA International” in Management, Law and Letters from De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi (Milan). and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland). She is currently Internal Project Manager at FIFA (member of the Associations and Development department), where she works in the Women's Football Development section. Honey Thaljieh regularly participates in numerous international conferences and events. She regularly speaks at conferences organized by prestigious international organizations such as the United Nations and Peace and Sport.
