13-year-old Silva (pictured above), was born in Syria but grew up as a refugee in Iraq after her family fled the war when she was just a baby.

When Rawan was just six years old, her world turned upside down. Her family was forced to leave their home in Sinjar in 2014 when ISIS attacked, and like many other Yazidi families, they fled, ending up in a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Duhok, Iraq.

Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nadira’s early experiences with physical activity were limited. The only acceptable form of exercise was playing tag outside with friends—a “noncontroversial form of running” for young girls.

In September 2024, Hanifa, an Afghan refugee now living in Berlin, will take on the challenge of running the BMW Berlin Marathon. But for Hanifa, this marathon is far more than just a race—it’s a tribute to the women and girls in Afghanistan who have lost so many of their fundamental rights under the Taliban’s rule.

Since the Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021, women and girls in Afghanistan have been subjected to a relentless series of decrees that have systematically dismantled their rights. Each year has seen an escalation in the oppression of women, with devastating consequences for their lives, their freedoms, and their futures.

The end of June marked the completion of the first portion of Free to Run’s year-long program in Iraq - our Learn to Run sessions. To mark the occasion after months of learning, hard work, and dedication, a series of 5km races were organized for our teams in three locations, and we were thrilled to see so many runners competing in their first race!

In Palestine, girls and women are not free to run.

As we step into February, Free to Run's Iraq team has been gearing up for an eventful 2024. The spotlight is on the Community Development Leaders, a group of incredible young women who participated in Free to Run programs in 2023 and have now been selected to take on leadership and mentorship roles.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadine, our Free to Run coach in Erbil, Iraq

These are the thoughts of a group of young women who have participated in the Omid mindfulness and strength-training program in Afghanistan this year, and wanted to share their experience.

Like many, we’ve had marathons on our minds lately at Free to Run, and we’re thrilled to share some inspiring news with you.

October 27 marked a momentous day as 43 dedicated runners participated in the Erbil Marathon in Iraq. The team had trained diligently all year, eagerly awaiting the chance to test their limits across various distances at the event.

Free to Run is proud to announce the launch of its 2023 Ambassador program and we're seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team of change-makers. Our ambassadors serve as advocates and ambassadors in their communities, promoting the mission of Free to Run and supporting girls and young women in some of the world's most challenging environments.

Run the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon with Free to Run

Free to Run has been named as an Official Charity Partner for New York Road Runners’ 2023 TCS NYC Marathon. We are thrilled to field a team of runners for the 8th time.

Free to Run will continue offering hyper-local programming in Afghanistan, despite new policy announcements by the Taliban that ban women from attending work at NGOs. Girls’ and young women of Afghanistan need mental/physical health support through embodied experience more than ever.